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.
Blue MG.Four cases of enterolith obstruction in horses aged from six to 14 years are reported. All four cases had symptoms of persistent low grade abdominal pain and anorexia with an absence of defaecation. Examination revealed reduced gut motility and accumulation of gas, but heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperatures and complete blood counts were all within normal limits. Enteroliths of varying sizes were removed from the region of the transverse colon in all four horses.
Neely DP, Stabenfeldt GH, Sauter CL.Daily injections of 150 units oxytocin administered to 6 mares on Days 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 after ovulation (Day 0 = ovulation) failed to induced luteolysis as indicated by the maintenance of normal plasma progestagen concentrations and the occurrence of normal ovulatory intervals. Three additional mares were given oestrogen injections 24 h before an injection of oxytocin on Day 7 after ovulation, but this treatment also failed to induce luteolysis since plasma progestagen concentrations were maintained in all three mares. Two mares exhibited normal ovulatory intervals, while the third developed a...
Moore JN, Steiss J, Nicholson WE, Orth DN.In the horse, a syndrome of hirsutism, hyperglycemia, glucosuria, polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, and progressive debilitation has been recognized. Most often the syndrome has been associated with adenomas of the pars intermedia of the pituitary and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia or nodular hyperplasia involving primarily the zona fasciculata. Previously, the syndrome has been ascribed to compression of the hypothalamus by an expanding but functionally inactive pituitary neoplasm. In the present case, with RIA determination of plasma ACTH concentrations, the syndrome was ascribed to pituitary...
Rice NR, Coggins L.In the endogenous reverse transcriptase reaction, equine infectious anemia virus is able to synthesize complementary DNA (cDNA) of 8,000 nucleotides in high yield. After 2 h in 50 muM dNTP, about 2.8 mug of cDNA per mg of protein is produced, almost 30% of which is long cDNA. The system thus compares favorably with the other two well-characterized endogenous reaction systems, Moloney murine leukemia virus and avian sarcoma virus. Elongation rates of 100 to 150 nucleotides per min have been observed; these rates are comparable to those seen with purified avian myeloblastosis virus reverse trans...
Slauson DO, Lewis RM.Glomerulonephritis constitutes an important category of renal diseases in animals and has been recognized with increasing frequency in the last decade. We report here the comparative morphologic aspects of glomerulonephritis as a naturally occurring disease of animals. We briefly review the immunopathogenesis of glomerulonephritis. The morphology of renal lesions occurring in glomerulonephritis in dogs, cats, cattle, sheep, horses and swine has been reviewed with emphasis on the range and specificity of various glomerular lesions and on the comparison of lesions between various species. A dist...
Hughes JP.Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is a highly contagious venereal disease of horses caused by a fastidious, Gram-negative coccobacillus which grows best on chocolate agar under microaerophilic conditions (5-10% CO2). Clinically, the disease is characterized by a copious watery-to-mucopurulent, vaginal discharge two to ten days after breeding by an infected stallion (11, 13). Shortened estrous cycle lengths are common and may be the only indication of endometritis in some instances (7). Inapparent carriers of the disease in both the mare and stallion make control of the disease more difficult. O...
Colglazier ML.The efficacy of the benzimidazole, oxfendazole, and the organophosphate, caviphos, against gastrointestinal parasites of ponies was evaluated by the critcial test method. Oxfendazole (10 mg/kg of body weight) given in single oral doses was 100% effective against adult large strongylids (Strongylus vulgaris, Strongylus edentatus, and Strongylus equinus), 99% effective against adult small strongylids, and 97% effective against 4th-stage small strongylids (genera identified in order of frequency: Cylicostephanus, Cyathostomum, Cylicocyclus, Triodontophorus, Poteriostomum, Oesophagodontus, Cylicod...
Hughes JP.Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is a highly contagious venereal disease of horses caused by a fastidious, Gram-negative coccobacillus which grows best on chocolate agar under microaerophilic conditions (5-10% CO2). Clinically, the disease is characterized by a copious watery-to-mucopurulent, vaginal discharge two to ten days after breeding by an infected stallion (11, 13). Shortened estrous cycle lengths are common and may be the only indication of endometritis in some instances (7). Inapparent carriers of the disease in both the mare and stallion make control of the disease more difficult. O...
Menzer C, Schams D.A double-antibody radioimmunoassay for PMSG, especially for meauring PMSG in cattle blood after exogenous application, has been developed. A rabbit antiserum against PMSG and pure PMSG for radioiodination were used. There was a strong cross-reaction against equine LH and FSH, but the slight cross-reaction against bovine LH and FSH could be eliminated by adding bovine LH to each tube during the assay. Unspecific, interfering influences of equine or cow serum could be eliminated by adding a constant amount of PMSG-free serum to each tube. PMSG added to 200 microliter of serum could be recovered ...
Allen WE.The situations and conditions that can disrupt the mares normal oestrous cycle are described. Season of the year is a major influence; maximum reproductive efficiency does not totally coincide with the artificially defined "breeding season". Other abnormalities are associated with spontaneously persistent luteal function, psychological influences over behavioural activity, the presence of endometritis, multiple ovulation, reproductive behavior after pregnancy failure and granulosa cell tumours.
Colles CM.In a survey of 95 control horses and 16 horses with navicular disease, the incidence of erosions and discoloration of the flexor cartilage of the navicular bone was no different between the control horses and those with navicular disease. All cases of navicular disease showed thrombosis of the distal navicular nutrient arteries and this could be related to a change to a rounded or flask shape of the distal nutrient foramen of the navicular bone. Erosions and discoloration of the navicular bone are therefore of no significance in navicular disease. Previously described lines of treatment are of...
van der Molen EJ.The causes of neonatal mortality in foals were studied over a period of two years. The total number of foals studied was 121. Bacterial infection was found to be an important factor. Infection caused by A. equuli (1.6%) which previously was the most important one, has been superseded by E. coli infection (56%). E. coli infections particularly occur during the first weeks of life and, depending on the course of the disease, give rise to various pathological changes. Infections running an acute course are mainly marked by pathological changes of the lung and lymphoid organs. Infections running a...
Snow DH, Guy PS.Training and detraining had little effect on the activity of glycogen synthase, hexokinase, glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase or total protein. The activity of 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase increased markedly during training. After 5 weeks of detraining, the activity of 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase was returning to pre-training values, whilst by 10-week detraining, the levels were increasing again.
Perryman LE, Buening GM, McGuire TC, Torbeck RL, Poppie MJ, Sale GE.Six young horses with combined immunodeficiency were given liver cells intravenously or intraperitoneally and thymuses subcutaneously from equine fetuses ranging from 68 to 110 days of gestational age. Three of four horses given cells from fetuses over 90 days of age developed lesions compatible with graft versus host reactions. One horse given cells from an 80-day fetus developed mitogen-responsive lymphocytes, synthesized immunoglobulins of the four major equine classes, and survived to 11.5 months of age. The sixth foal receiving cells from a 68-day fetus showed no discernable effects from ...
van Grevenhof EM, Gezelle Meerburg ARD, van Dierendonck MC, van den Belt AJM, van Schaik B, Meeus P, Back W.Osteochondrosis (OC) is a common, clinically important joint disorder in which endochondral ossification is focally disturbed. Reduced blood supply to growing cartilage is considered an important cause of the condition, which has both genetic and environmental origins. Housing conditions can influence cartilage injury through peak-pressure changes during limb sliding. Additionally, circulatory perturbation can cause the avascular necrosis of cartilage. In this study, we evaluated the type and frequency of limb sliding during standing up and the occurrence of OC in foals aged up to 12 months o...
Morris LH.The generally recommended minimum number of spermatozoa required for conventional artificial insemination in the mare is in excess of 200 x 10(6) progressively motile spermatozoa. Recent developments in different insemination techniques such as deep uterine, hysteroscopic and oviductal insemination, which have been designed to use significantly fewer spermatozoa, are reviewed in this paper. A number of studies have demonstrated that ultrasound guided deep uterine insemination of 5 x 10(6) fresh spermatozoa can produce satisfactory pregnancy rates. The use of hysteroscopic insemination enables ...
Ethell MT, Hodgson DR, Hills BA.To determine the effects of the intra-articular injection of surface-active phospholipid in a propylene glycol carrier on synovial fluid composition and joint function of horses, and to compare these effects with those observed after the intra-articular administration of prilocaine, hyaluronan and propylene glycol alone. Methods: Twenty-four horses were randomly allocated to four treatment groups: Group 1 100 mg of surface-active phospholipid in 1 ml of propylene glycol; Group 2 1 ml of propylene glycol; Group 3 10 ml of prilocaine; Group 4 2 ml of hyaluronan. Left radiocarpal joints were inje...
Jiang B, Rugh KS, Hatfield DG, Jiang D, Hahn AW.We have developed a digital signal analysis technique which can be used to evaluate various cardiac events in ponies and horses at rest and during exercise. The algorithm is designed to identify R-wave peaks on the surface electrocardiogram, consistent reference points on the left ventricular pressure waveform and the initiation of the QRS complex on the epicardial electrogram. We have used the technique to evaluate data from 10 horses and ponies at rest, during strenuous exercise and during experimentally-induced coronary artery occlusion. The technique provided rapid and accurate beat-by-bea...
Beech J, Kohn C, Leitch M, Weinstein AJ, Gallagher M.Serum, synovial fluid, and urine concentrations of gentamicin were measured in normal mature horses which had been given a single dose of the drug. Mean peak serum concentration (16.8 microgram/ml) occurred in horses 30 minutes after they were given a single intramuscular dose of 4.4 mg of gentamicin/kg of body weight. In horses given a smaller dose of gentamicin (1.7 mg/kg), mean peak serum concentrations of gentamicin (10.2 microgram/ml) appeared at 1 hour. Synovial fluid concentration was maximum at 2 hours for both doses; in horses given the larger dose, mean peak concentration was 6.4 mic...
Traub-Dargatz JL.Bacterial pneumonia in the horse often occurs secondary to viral respiratory infection; however, primary infections can occur. A diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia is made on the basis of history, physical examination, and laboratory and radiographic findings. Treatment consists of appropriate antimicrobial therapy for at least 7 to 10 days; further therapy may be needed in more severe cases. Prevention of bacterial pneumonia includes attempting to prevent viral respiratory infections and appropriate management to prevent stress to the respiratory tract.
Boldt E.The use of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine continues to grow within the veterinary community. As more clients seek out complementary and alternative medicine for their own health care, they begin to seek out these forms of therapy for their animals. For the equine practitioner, this includes those clients with geriatric animals. It is hoped that this article provides some insight into what conditions may be helped with CVM (complementary veterinary medicine) and when an equine practitioner may want to consider CVM as a form of therapy for the geriatric horse.
Ball MA, Allen D, Parks A.A 13 year-old pony was evaluated because of right hind limb lameness of acute onset. Radiographs of the right tarsus obtained shortly after the onset of lameness were normal, but results of nuclear scintigraphy were abnormal. Two radiolucent subchondral cyst-like lesions of the distal part of the tibia were seen on radiographs obtained 9 months later. The lesions were surgically decompressed, and the pony was sound 1 year later. It is hypothesized that a traumatic insult created a crack or split in the articular cartilage that allowed subsequent development of the cyst-like lesions.
Hoffman AM.The advantages of aerosol medications include the direct, topical application to the target organ (airways); rapid effect; and low systemic availability. There are now more efficient methods for aerosol delivery that facilitate the use of increasingly sophisticated aerosol drugs. This article reviews the principles of aerosol deposition and the pharmacology of current medications.
Xu X, Murphy LA.The presence of insecticides like pyrethrins and synthetic pyrethroids, combined with the synergist piperonyl butoxide, in animal feeds can pose a risk to both animal and human health by contaminating the food chain. In this study, a simple and fast method was developed for the simultaneous determination of these compounds in contaminated animal feeds using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sample preparation was carried out using a QuEChERS-based approach, and the method was validated with acceptable accuracy ranging from 84 to 115% and precision below 10%. The limit ...
Staddon GE, Weaver BM.The regional perfusion to the lungs of 14 ponies was studied using radioactively labelled microspheres injected intravenously. It was found that within half an hour of induction of anaesthesia the perfusion to the dependent lung had decreased significantly from the values in the standing animal. When anaesthesia was maintained for more than two and a half hours, however, the lung perfusions were not significantly different from the standing values when the animals were lying in lateral or supine recumbency.
Carstanjen B, Schönert S, Heblinski N, Gruber AD.Fibroleiomyomas of the ovary are rare. This smooth muscle tumour may develop and increase in size during pregnancy. Diagnosis is based on histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Histologically, the ovarian fibroleiomyoma consists of non-invasive bundles of smooth muscle cells that synthesize collagen-like extracellular matrix. This case report describes an ovarian fibroleiomyoma in a pregnant multiparous broodmare with a history of intermittent signs of colic.
Detilleux J.Frequentism dominates scientific practice although Bayesianism may provide an alternative, especially when analysing data from complex, high-dimensional models. The key differences between Bayesianism and Frequentism are highlighted in the introduction. Next, I review the different stages of Bayesian statistical reasoning in a research setting, explain the key concepts and illustrate them with toy examples taken in equine veterinary medicine. An extension to more complex models (Bayes network) is introduced and guidelines are offered as a conclusion.
Magnuson NS, Decker DM, Perryman LE.The effect of adenosine, deoxyadenosine, guanosine, and deoxyguanosine on the growth rate of fibroblasts derived from normal horses, horses heterozygous for the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) trait (heterozygotes), and horses with SCID was studied. All four purines were found to inhibit growth in a dose-dependent manner, but only adenosine and deoxyadenosine were inhibitory at concentrations of less than 100 microM. No statistical difference in sensitivity to adenosine was detected between normal and SCID fibroblasts. Fibroblasts from SCID horses were, however, more sensitive to the g...
Wood AK, Newell WH, Borg RP.In a dorsal plane, an improved ultrasonographic off-set system was used to obtain serial ultrasonographic images with enhanced anatomic and pathologic detail of the tendons, ligaments, and associated structures of the limbs of 100 horses. The off-set provided good acoustic coupling between a linear array ultrasonographic transducer and the horse's skin. A water-soluble gel contained within the off-set had acoustic properties similar to those of mammalian soft tissues.
Blue MG.This study provides accumulated data to assist the definition of karyotypes from normal and infertile horses. The normal karyotype of the horse (2n = 64) was characterized following Giemsa staining and C- banding, and 23% aneuploidy was found among chromosome counts of cells prepared from 44 clinically normal horses and 24 equine embryos. These expected variations in chromosome counts are especially important in the evaluation of potential mosaicism. Centromere staining was shown to be a valuable aid for the identification of specific chromosomes, in particular the sex chromosomes. Sex chromat...
