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.
Johnson L, Amann RP, Pickett BW.Spermatozoa from four regions of the epididymis and from ejaculated semen were evaluated for their resistance to cold shock, progressive motility, and structural stability. Spermatozoa were incubated at 38 C and their percentage of eosinophilia was compared with that of spermatozoa cooled to 0 C in 2 minutes, 10 C in 12 minutes, or 4 C in 22 minutes. Spermatozoa motility was estimated visually under phase-contrast microscopy and was recorded by cinematography. Structural stability of spermatozoa incubated in 0.05 M sodium borate buffer, 0.035 M sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 0.002 M dithiothrei...
Barth AD, Barber SM, McKenzie NT.A two month old Thoroughbred filly was presented with signs of depression, grinding of the teeth, frothing of the mouth and abdominal pain. These signs had persisted for two weeks despite treatment with mineral oil, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, meperidine and antibiotics. A variety of diagnostic tests were done, the only abnormal finding was a stress leukon. On exploratory laparotomy the stomach was dilated with fluid and gas and the pyloric canal was constricted. Pyloroplasty resulted in correction of the condition. The etiological possibilities are discussed. This is believed to be the fir...
Cappugi G, Manao G, Camici G, Ramponi G.The amino acid sequence of horse muscle acylphosphatase is given in the present paper. The carboxymethylated enzyme consists of a single polypeptide chain of 98 amino acid residues with an acetyl group blocking the NH2 terminus and a tyrosine at the COOH terminus. The calculated molecular weight of the native protein, a mixed disulfide with glutathione, is 11,365. The carboxymethylated protein was cleaved by cyanogen bromide. The three expected fragments were purified; moreover, an additional fragment, derived from a partial failure of cleavage at methionine-24, was purified and characterized....
Buss DD, Asbury AC, Chevalier L.Technical and interpretive limitations of equine fetal electrocardiography were evaluated in recordings obtained from 45 pregnant mares. Technical limitations were related to the small amplitude of the fetal electrocardiogram and the variability in the lead configuration providing the best recording. It was found that recording the fetal electrocardiogram at high sensitivity and high base-line fidelity in several different leads was necessary to obtain satisfactory tracings. Interpretive limitations were related in part to the small amplitude of the fetal electrocardiogram and to the marked va...
Mirck MH.The use of trichlorfon as an anthelmintic in horses has increased since it was combined with mebendazole and febantel, and became commercially available as Telmin-trichlorfon and Rintal-plus respectively. Field studies showed that these combined preparations frequently gave rise to cases of poisoning. Mild to severe colic was observed up to six hours after treatment, diarrhoea and/or anorexia continuing to be present for one to six days after administration. The 'horse weight measurer' introduced by Janssen Pharmaceutica is not sufficiently accurate to prevent overdosage. It is advisable only ...
Otsuka S, Listowsky I, Niitsu Y, Urushizaki I.An intraspecies hybrid apoferritin was assembled by mixing subunits of horse heart ferritin, which consists mainly of H-type subunits, and horse spleen ferritin, in which L-type subunits predominate. Interspecies hybrid apoferritins were reconstituted from subunits of human liver-horse spleen ferritins and from rat liver-horse spleen ferritins. All the hybrid ferritins migrated as single zones with electrophoretic mobilities intermediate between those of the parent ferritins. Isoelectric focusing data and immunological patterns were consistent with the view that the reassembled apoferritins we...
Greet TR, Jeffcott LB, Whitwell KE, Cook WR.The paper describes the assessment and practical implications of a laryngeal adductory reflex in a series of 30 ataxic and 64 non-ataxic horses. The reflex was evoked by slapping the saddle region just caudal to the withers. In normal horses this produced a flickering adductory movement of the contralateral arytenoid cartilage which was observed endoscopically. Abolition of the laryngeal response was encountered in in 3 situations:--(1) Disruption of the afferent impulse occurred in those horses in which there was significant spinal cord pathology affecting the pathway from the cranial thoraci...
Nickels FA, Brown CM, Breeze RG.A unilateral pulmonary granular cell tumor occurred in a Thoroughbred mare with longstanding respiratory disease wrongly attributed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The clinical features, radiology and endoscopic appearance permitted an accurate diagnosis, which was supported by subsequent necropsy and histologic examination. Obstructive pulmonary disease was ruled out after measurement of arterial blood gases and maximum intrathoracic pressure changes, and after microscopic examination of the lung.
Scott EA, Sandler GA.Blood flow (milliliter/minute) was measured in the medial palmar artery of 12 horses, using electromagnetic flow equipment. Extraluminal flow probes were surgically placed around the artery and base-line blood flows were recorded during surgical manipulation. After horses had recovered from anesthesia, blood flows were recorded each day for 11 days. According to mean average blood flows, horses were allotted to two groups: group 1--those with predominately normal flow characteristics, and group 2--those horses with predominately abnormal flow features. Average daily mean blood flows in the med...
Prescott JF, Johnson JA, Markham RJ.Four month-old foals were infected orally with 75 mL of a suspension of 5.0 x 10(8)Corynebacterium equi per mL. Two foals were killed after ten days and had scanty number of C. equi in the caeco-colic lymph nodes. No C. equi were recovered from the other two foals, killed 20 days after infection. No gross pathological change was detected in these four foals, although mild microscopic lesions were seen in the ileum of one foal. Results of lymphocyte blastogenesis using peripheral blood lymphocytes and C. equi antigens showed, however, that lymphocytes became sensitized to C. equi following this...
Jeffcott LB, Dalin G.The functional anatomy of the thoracolumbar (TL) spine is considered in relation to the horse's ability to perform at speed and to jump. The morphological features quite clearly show the relative inflexibility of the equine back and this was confirmed by some experimental studies. Fresh post mortem specimens from 5 Thoroughbreds were used to estimate the limits of dorsoventral movement of the TL spine from mid-thoracic to the cranial lumbar (T10-L2). The individual spinous processes could be moved a mean 1.1-6.0 mm on maximum ventroflexion and 0.8-3.8 mm on dorsiflexion. The overall flexibilit...
Rose RJ, Backhouse JW, Ilkiw JE.The electrocardiograms of 22 horses competing in a 3-day event were recorded before and after the event. In addition, blood samples were taken for determination of packed cell volume and total plasma protein before, during and after the speed and endurance phases (Day 2). The electrocardiograms of 13 horses showed various abnormalities before the event, most of which were T wave changes. As a result of competition in the event, there was a significant increase in the number of leads showing T wave abnormalities when the electrocardiograms taken before and after the event were compared. At all ...
Arko RJ, Wong KH.An infection model in laboratory mice for studying the bacterium (proposed name Haemophilus equigenitalis) causing contagious equine metritis is described. Small porous chambers were implanted subcutaneously into mice and after 1 to 3 weeks were inoculated with H equigenitalis. Infections that persisted for > 30 days were established by direct transfer of infective chamber fluid or by injection of laboratory-grown cultures. Immunization of mice with formaldehyde-treated cells induced significant, strain-related immunity to infection and did not appear to require complement as a protection medi...
Justines G, Sucre H, Alvarez O.Transplacental passage of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, epizootic strain P-676, occurred in four of nine fetuses studied. The mares were infected near term. Virus was recovered in high titer from fetal blood and organs, while no virus was detected in maternal blood but neutralizing antibodies were present. No evidence of in utero infection was found in two fetuses from mares infected with MF-8, another epizootic strain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus.
Akinboade OA, Awani O, Best O, Cole T.Summary Twelve (12) heavy horses of the Shire breed imported into Nigeria in 1974 died within two months after importation. This was because of inclement weather and non-availability of AHS vaccine.
Carmichael SW, Weber A, Winkler H.The uptake of nucleotides and catecholamines into chromaffin granules from adrenals of pigs and horses is similar to that previously seen in bovine chromaffin granules. The rate of [3H]ATP uptake at 2 mM-ATP concentration was 0.42 +/- 0.06 and 0.15 +/- 0.02 nmol/mg protein/min for pig and horse granules, respectively. The apparent Km's were 1.37 mM for pig granules, 0.89 mM for horse granules, and 1.2 mM for ox granules. The sensitivity of the uptake for nucleotides and catecholamine to specific inhibitors was found to be similar in granules from pig and ox, indicating that the same mechanisms...
Neufang R.Comments are given on the present recommendations for the keeping of horses in stables. Proposals for an animal friendly accommodation are made including practical considerations.
Komosa M, Flisińska-Bojanowska A, Gill J.1. In six foals and their mothers (of Standard breed) diurnal changes in the haemoglobin level, red blood cell number and mean corpuscular haemoglobin during the first 13 weeks of foal life were studied. 2. Studies begun when a foal reached 7 days of age and were repeated every two weeks till 13 weeks of foal life. Blood was taken every 6 hr in foals and every 4 hr in mares. 3. No diurnal rhythmicity in parameters studied either in foals or in mares was found. 4. Decrease of haemoglobin level in lactating mares (14.0-12.5 g/100 ml) without changes in red blood cell number were observed. Mean c...
Ghoshal NG.The occurrence of aberrant lymph nodes, on both sides of the head of a horse, belonging to the retropharyngeal lymphocenter has been reported.
McGuire TR, Weitkamp LR.The equine transferrin F variant is distinguishable into two types, F1 and F2, on alkaline polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Gene frequencies in 63 related Thoroughbreds are 0.39 and 0.19 for TfF1 and TfF2, respectively. In contrast the frequencies for these two alleles in 375 related Standardbreds is 0.00 and 0.59.
Trotter GW.Numerous conditions, including trauma, infection, neoplasia, and developmental problems, can affect the paranasal sinuses. Successful resolution of these problems is predicated upon a thorough diagnostic workup to ensure the most accurate presumptive diagnosis. Surgical intervention is enhanced by using approaches that allow wide access to sinus compartments. Rigorous postoperative management is also important to a successful outcome.
Bakos Z, Vörös K.The application of equine thoracic percussion has been ignored because of the availability of modern imaging techniques. Ultrasonography is a reliable tool in determining the caudal lung border of horses. The aim of the study was to compare percussion with ultrasonography to determine lung borders in horses. Objective: That thoracic percussion can detect the caudal lung border and that its accuracy is comparable with thoracic ultrasonography. Methods: Fifteen randomly chosen, healthy, Warmblood horses. Methods: The caudal lung border was detected by percussion and ultrasonography at the end of...
Clayton HM, Duncan JL, Dargie JD.The mechanisms involved in the pathophysiological disturbances associated with the presence of mature Parascaris equorum in the small intestine were investigated with radioisotopic techniques. The results suggested that, compared with worm-free controls, infected foals had a reduction in gut motility, an increase in the body solids ratio, a lowering of the body pool of albumin and a decreased ability to incorporate dietary methionine into plasma protein.
Young N, Corletto F, Wright I.To identify prognostic factors for return to racing after lag screw repair of condylar fractures and develop a predictive model for return to racing. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: A total of 356 horses referred to a single referral hospital in the UK with a third metacarpal/metatarsal condylar fracture between January 1999 and December 2018. Methods: Age, sex, fracture site, fracture characteristics, surgery related variables and complications were retrieved from case records. Data were divided into two sets for model training and model validation. Univariable analyses were per...
Fox JH, Porter BF, Easterwood L, Hildenbrand JRV, Hélie P, Smylie J, O'Toole D.Metal phosphides, particularly zinc and aluminum phosphide, occasionally poison horses and other equids following their use as rodenticides and insecticides. Grain-based aluminum phosphide baits are used to control rodents such as prairie dogs. The clinical course in intoxicated horses is short (<24-48 h), and animals may be found dead. Hepatic lesions caused by phosphine poisoning are not well described. Laboratory confirmation depends on detecting phosphine gas in gastric contents. Eight horses and a mule were exposed to zinc phosphide used to control prairie dogs on a Wyoming ranch. Three o...
Cooley PL, Milvae R, Riis RC, Laratta LJ.A study was performed to identify prostacyclin (PGI2) in equine aqueous humor, demonstrate an increase in PGI2 following anterior chamber paracentesis, and determine the effects of subconjunctival injection of flunixin meglumine on PGI2 accumulation. Twenty ponies were found to be normal upon ocular examination and were placed under general anesthesia. Anterior chamber paracentesis was performed in both eyes (right and left); immediately afterward, 25 mg of flunixin meglumine was injected (subconjunctivally) in the left eye. Aqueous paracentesis was performed 1.5 hours later (both eyes). Aqueo...
Piccot-Crézollet C, Casamatta JM, Lepage OM.Digital semiological anesthesia in horses: Technique and elements of interpretation. Semiological anesthesia of the pes is used during examinations for lameness in horses. Recent research data on the distal digital, distal interphalangeal articular, and podotrochlear intrathecal nerve blocks indicate that they are less than specific when considered in isolation. They should be used in combination to localize pain in the pes. A positive response to anesthesia of the distal interphalangeal articulation could also indicate that the source of the pain was in the podotrochlear apparatus or the dors...
Hall NP, Heaton KT, Farnsworth KD, Ragle CA.This report evaluates the use of 4.5- and 5.5-mm cannulated drill bits for articular cartilage removal from the proximal interphalangeal joints of equine cadaver limbs. Limbs from 8 equine cadavers, all with normal proximal interphalangeal joints. Proximal interphalangeal joints of 32 limbs from 8 equine cadavers were drilled using either 4.5- or 5.5-mm cannulated drill bits. Pastern joints were then disarticulated, and intra-articular drilling was evaluated by visual inspection. Post-drilling evaluation revealed complete intra-articular drilling occurred in all 32 joints. Canulated 4.5- and 5...
Freeman DE, Inoue OJ, Eurell TE.To study the effect of flunixin meglumine on short circuit current (Isc) in equine right ventral colon in vitro. Methods: Intestinal mucosa from healthy horses and ponies. Methods: Isc was measured in mucosa from the right ventral colon mounted in Ussing chambers. In experiment 1, collection and incubation solutions were: control (no additions); flunixin meglumine, 4 micrograms/ml; indomethacin, 10(-6) M; and flunixin meglumine (4 micrograms/ml) with 10(-6) M prostaglandin E2. In experiment 2, incubation conditions were: control [plain Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate [KRB] solution]; flunixin meglumi...
Sünder U, Moors E, Hagemann K, Gauly M.The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of flying insects (Order Diptera) on the behaviour of grazing horses in relation to the use of insecticide and repellent substances. The investigations were done between June and August in 2008 in 3 periods of 7 days each. As insecticide and repellent two substances were used: "Well-care emulsion" (Co. Essex Tierarznei, München, GER) containing Permethrin and "Bremsen-Frei-Plus" (Co. Dr. Schaette AG, Bad Waldsee, GER) based on etheric oils. Both groups were compared with a non treated control group in a crossover-design. Each group (n = 3-5) w...