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.
Milne DW, Turner AS, Gabel AA.In the horse, surgical approaches for plating fractures of the ulna, radius, metacarpus, tibia, and metatarsus involved a single curvilinear skin incision and incision of the superficial fascia in a manner to prevent postoperative dehiscence. The tension side of the bones, as well as location of nerves, arteries, veins, and muscles, were the major determinants in developing these approaches for atraumatic surgery and short operative time.
Zobel G, Kolb FE.Acid phosphatase of erythrocytes of several species was investigated, with three isozymes having been recorded from swine (three types), three (two types) from horse, four (one type) from dog, two (two types) from cat, two (three types) from duck, and two (one type) from fowl. The Michaelis constant of the enzyme varied between 3.5 and 5 X 10(-4) M for the species involved. The species, however, differed slightly for the optimum pH of the enzyme. The average enzymatic activities were (5.68 +/- 0.42 for dog, 4.46 +/- 1.0 for horse, 3.8 +/- 0.24 for swine, 3.72 for cat, 2.5 +/- 0.62 for duck, an...
Cattabiani F, Cabassi E, Allodi C, Gianelli F.The AA. report the results of taxonomic research conducted on the conjunctival sac of 59 horses for identification of the present bacterial flora. In the controlled animals, it was observed, at the level of the considered niche, a community constituted of normal bacterial populations, but not autochtonous in the significance they attributed from DUBOS et al., relative to the characterization of the indigenous microbiota of the intestine. The isolated normal bacterial flora seems to be constituted of: Micrococcus (subgroup 6 of Baird-Parker, M. luteus, Micrococcus spp.) isolated in 49,15% of th...
Greenway JA, Puls R.Clinical sickness was observed in domestic ducks, geese, horses and swine during October 1973. All species showed upper alimentary distress with mortalities occurring in the geese. Barley derived from a common source had been fed. Examination of the barley revealed invasion by Fusarium spp and detection of a high level of dermatitic fusariotoxins.
Damron GW.A survey of horses for gastrointestinal trichomonads was conducted to determine the organism's role in equine diarrhea and to establish its proper identity and morphology. Trichomonads were found by cultural examination of feces of 101 (35%) of 289 apparently healthy horses. At necropsy, trichomonads were cultured from 11 (37%) of another 30 horses which showed no signs of diarrhea at the time of death. In 4 of the 11 horses, colonies of trichomonads numbered 30,000 to 150,000/ml of cecal fluid. Diarrhea was induced in 1 of 6 horses, with the fecal fluid containing 10,000 to 110,000 trichomona...
Strafuss AC.In a review of neoplasm registry records at Kansas State University (1961 through 1971), 58 squamous cell carcinomas were reported in 10 breeds of horses. Mean age of the affected horses was 12.4 years. The head, eye and ocular adnexa accounted for 43.1%, the external male genitalia, 44.8%, and female perineal region, 12.0% of the squamous cell carcinomas, altogether representing 20.2% of 287 neoplasms recorded.
Heyneman RA, Bruyninckx WJ, Vercauteren RE.Two distinct groups of acid phosphatase containing granules were characterized in neutrophils, each group displaying different multiple forms of the enzyme. The heavy granule acid phosphatase showed a lysosomal location. A second lighter group of particles contained a thermolabile, thiol-dependent acid p-nitrophenyl and alpha-naphtylphosphatase, an enzyme clearly different from lysosomal acid phosphatase. Acid phosphatase activity from eosinophil leukocytes appeared to be totally associated with the typical eosinophil granules. On mechanical disruption of these particles, an acid phosphatase w...
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...
Fennell C.Skin scrapings from clinical cases of equine skin disorder were examined by culture to determine the micro-organisms involved. In-vitro and in-vivo studies were then made to determine the efficacy of Trichloro-carbanilide as a topical treatment for these cases. The laboratory findings and results of treatment are described, and the value of Trichlorocarbanilide in cases of bacterial, actinomycete and fungal infection assessed.
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.
Diethelm AG, Chambers LM, Balch CM, Phillips SJ.Anti-human thymocyte cell membrane antibody prepared by hyperimmunization of the horse produced an antiserum capable of prolonging skin allografts in the rhesus monkey for an average of 26 days. Lymphocyte depletion was present in paracortical areas of mesenteric lymph nodes of these animals after 28 days of treatment; the intravenous administration was tolerated without ill effects. Immunofluorescent studies identified both broad specificity antibodies reacting with numerous human cell types as well as thymus-dependent (T) cell antibodies reactive with human thymocytes and peripheral T-cells....
Matheka HD, Coggins L, Shively JN, Norcross NL.EIA virus was purified from equine fetal kidney cell cultures by PEG-precipitation, two sucrose-gradient sedimentations (5-30 per cent) and (25 to 60 per cent) centrifugation, using the immunodiffusion test to follow the procedure. Purified EIA virus had a density (20 degrees C) of 1.162 and a sedimentation constant of S20w=656. electron microscopy revealed a particle of about 100 nm in diameter with a very flexible but usually spherical shape. The dense core may be at various locations inside the membrane bound particle.
McGuire TC, Banks KL, Evans DR, Poppie MJ.Agammaglobulinemia was diagnosed in a 1-year-old Thoroughbred horse on the basis of the following observations: (1) absence of serum immunoglobulins M, A, and G(T); (2) small amounts of serum immunoglobulin G (16 mg/100 ml); (3) absence of specific antibody in the serum of the horse following immunization and challenge exposure to 2 antigens; (4) absence of plasma cells, primary follicles, and germinal centers in a lymph node removed after antigenic stimulation; (5) absence of "natural" serum antibodies to rabbit-erythrocytes which were easily detectable in age-matched control horse serums; an...
Little PB, Thorsen J.Equine viral rhinopneumonitis type I virus was isolated from spinal cord and brain of a paraparetic horse with disseminated necrotizing myeloencephalitis. Necrotic arteriolitis,nonsuppurative necrotizing myeloencephalitis and Gasserian ganglioneuritis were present. On record were 12 more cases of horses with similar lesions. The horses had been ataxic or paretic for up to several weeks. A field survey indicated that 14 of 24 horses with acute myelitic signs developed them after recent exposure to respiratory disease.
Steel JD, Hall MC, Stewart GA.Changes that occur in the equine ECG during and after exercise have been described and compared with resting ECG's obtained from the same horses. When the speed of work equals or is greater than "three-quarter pace" (i.e. "even time" or 200 metres in 15 seconds) the high heart rates developed cause the loss of ECG waveforms that are readily discernible at rest. Although differences in the waveforms between horses with normal and abnormal resting ECG's have been observed, the more definitive useful information is the fact that abnormal horses showed significantly higher heart rates than normal ...
Vaughan JT, Montes LF, Bembibre A, Blaquier PC.A 5-year-old Thoroughbred chestnut mare was presented because of multiple lesions noticed for approximately one year over the vulva and ther perianal areas. Clinically, there were moist warts that stood out because of their whitish color which contrasted strikingly with the surrounding, normally pigmented, uninvolved skin (Fig. 1). Repeated topical applications of 20% podophyllin in 95% ethyl alcohol produced rapid involution. Histopathologically, marked acanthosis, numerous mitoses, prominently vacuolated epidermal cells and a chronic dermal inflammatory infiltrate were seen (Figs. 2, 3, and ...
Løowenstein H, Markussen B, Weeke B.Three major allergens of horse hair and dandruff have been isolated. The fractionation procedures involved various combinations, described in detail, of ethanol precipitation below --5degreesC, cation- and anion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. UV absorption, quantitative immunoelectrophoresis and RAST inhibition were used to monitor the separations. Protein impurities constituted less than 5% in all cases. The molecular weights of the isolated proteins were 1.9 X 10(4), 5.1 X 10(4) and 3.1 X 10(4) daltons, respectively. The pIs were determined as 4.1, 3.8 and 3.9, respectively. Th...
Genchi C, Malnati G.Strongyloides westeri larvae transmission by mare milk in foals has been studied; the results show the importance of this route for parasite penetration.
Bodurov N, Filipov Zh.Comparative clinical and experimental investigations were carried out on 18 clinically normal horses. It was found that the single transfusion of in vitro UV-treated autogenous blood, following a previously described method, was tolerated well by horses and did not lead to any deviations from the normal indices. Under the effect of the treated blood there was an increase in the hemoglobin content, rise in the erythrocyte and leukocyte count with slightly expressed hyperleukocytosis and weak neutrophilia (simple regeneration of the blood). The sedimentation of erythrocytes also showed higher ra...
Bampidis V, Azimonti G, Bastos ML, Christensen H, Durjava M, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, López Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B, Pechová A, Petkova M....Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of an essential oil obtained from the oleoresin of Aiton (pine white oil, also known as turpentine oil), when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the essential oil under assessment is safe up to the maximum proposed use levels of 35 mg/kg for laying hens, piglets, pigs for fattening, sows, rabbits, salmonids, 50 mg/kg for veal ca...
Herbst W, Görlich P, Danner K.Of 1081 acute and chronically respiratory diseased as well as clinically normal horses 824 sera and 257 paired serum samples collected 1986 and 1987 were tested for antibodies against several different respiratory viruses such as influenza virus A/equi 1 and 2 (Influenza 1 a. 2), equine herpesvirus type 1/4 (EHV 1/4), mammalian reovirus type 1-3 (Reovirus 1-3), equine rhinovirus type 1 (ERV 1), equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV 1), and equine arteritis virus (EAV). The investigations resulted in an antibody prevalence of 57.2% (Influenza 1), 59.5% (Influenza 2), 81.5% (EHV 1/4), 50.3% (Reovirus 1...
Baxter GM, Moore JN, Budsberg SC.An open radial fracture in an adult horse (450 kg) was repaired by internal fixation, using two 18-hole 4.5-mm broad dynamic compression plates and 5.5- and 4.5-mm bone screws. The fracture healed completely, but when evaluated 9 months after surgery, the horse was lame on the fractured limb at a trot. Local infiltration of anesthesia along the distal half of the bone plates greatly ameliorated the lameness, suggesting that the plates were irritating the soft tissues and extensor tendons along the cranial and lateral aspects of the antebrachium. Both bone plates were removed simultaneously wit...
Reiners SR, Jann HW, Stein LE, Good JK, Claypool PL.To compare the healing and mechanical strength of a multiple split autologous tendon graft (MG) to a whole autologous tendon graft (WG) in the deep digital flexor tendon of ponies. Methods: In vitro evaluation of two different tendon-grafting techniques. Methods: Six ponies of mixed gender and age. Methods: Tenotomies performed in forelimb deep digital flexor tendons (DDFT) distal to the insertion of the accessory ligament (AL-DDFT) were repaired with free autologous grafts from the hindlimb lateral digital extensor tendon (LDET). Grafts were either whole (WG) or split into three longitudinal ...
Fellmer E.Veterinary examinations of horses on the occasion of sale or purchase take place on the basis of contracts for work and services. Three types may be distinguished: Examinations for sale (by order of the seller before the sales contract is concluded) Guarantee examination (by order of the buyer after conclusion of the sales contract) (Real) purchase examination (under a conditional contract of purchase). In the latter case the veterinarian acts as trustee for both seller and buyer and is equally obliged to both parties morally and at law. The deficiencies of the law of warranties for contracts ...
Bowling AT, Dileanis S.The C3 polymorphism of equine serum or plasma revealed by agarose gel electrophoresis can be diagnosed with protein stain following acid protein fixation. In addition to the three alleles previously described (C31, C32, C33), a fourth allele (C34) was found. Population data for 25 domestic breeds and Equus przewalskii are presented.
Cottrell DF, Jones AF, Potter KE.Electromanometric recordings of caecal pressures were made in chronically cannulated ponies. Endoscopy allowed direct observation of the caecal base and cupola while recording intracaecal pressures and enabled a functional interpretation of caecal pressure profiles. Using gas-tight seals, the caecal gas cap baseline pressure (tone) was usually below atmosphere, becoming less negative postprandially. Diurnal variations were observed in the amplitude and frequency of caecal pressure profiles and the direction of caecal movements, during which intra-caecal gas cap pressures briefly became positiv...
Allano M, Grimes C, Boivin R, Smith G, Dumaresq J, Leclere M.A gelding from eastern Canada was presented for cough and exercise intolerance 14 months after it had travelled on Vancouver Island. Cryptococcus gattii pneumonia was diagnosed based on cytology, antigen titers, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The horse was treated with fluconazole for 10 months. Delayed C. gattii infection can occur after travel in an endemic area. Pneumonie à Cryptococcus gattii chez un cheval adulte ayant voyagé dans une région endémique. Un cheval hongre de l’est canadien fut présenté pour de la toux et de l’intolérance à l’exercice 14 mois après avoir ...
Góss GC, Mozzaquatro FD, Vanhove R, Camargo LP, Döwich Pradella G, Leite CT, Gomes EM, Carneiro ALM, Heckler GF, Duarte CA.The physiological measurements of collateral ligaments of distal interphalangeal joint (CL-DIPJ) differ in the literature. The factors that influence these differences are not well described. The aims of this study are to compare CL-DIPJ sizes in equines with different withers height, as well as to correlate body weight and hoof size to the size of these ligaments. In total, 52 horses were used in the study. They were divided into two groups according to wither height: Group 1 (G1) - 21 animals with up to 147 cm - and group 2 (G2) - 21 animals with greater than 148 cm. CL-DIPJ was ultrasonog...
Leaper DJ, Foster ME, Brennan SS, Davies PW.Magnetic fields have been considered for treating many ailments over man's history. There have been many anecdotal unsupported claims for successful treatment of soft tissue injury although reports have been more substantive in the orthopaedic field. The widespread clinical and veterinary use of a light self-adhesive magnetic foil in Europe prompted this trial of experimental wound healing. One hundred and sixty Sprague-Dawley rats had a linear 2.5 cm incision or a circular 1 cm skin defect made over the mid-dorsal spine. Equal numbers were randomised to receive either a magnetic foil or a dum...
Reis KJ.A hemolytic assay was developed for the measurement of functional equine complement activity. The assay utilizes antibody sensitized chicken erythrocytes as the target cell and was specific for classical pathway (antibody dependent) complement activity. The assay was found to be reproducible and more sensitive than previous reports using other species of target cells. Total serum complement (CH50) values were determined for five mares and their foals and followed over a period of 3 months.
Del Río-Sancho S, Concas D, Oreste P, Zoppetti G, Briggs PH, Kalia YN.The aim was to investigate diclofenac delivery into and across equine skin in vitro using Franz diffusion cells from a novel diclofenac epolamine (DIC-EP; 1.3%) formulation and to compare the results to those of Surpass (1% diclofenac sodium liposomal cream) and a 1% aqueous solution of diclofenac sodium. Skin was harvested from the lower legs of Freiberger geldings immediately after slaughter and sliced to a thickness of ~2 mm. Skin samples were divided into two groups [Group 1: 1 year old (n = 2) and Group 2: 6-8 years old (n = 3)]. Cumulative permeation of diclofenac in Groups 1 and...
Holcombe SJ, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, Robinson NE.To determine the effect of bilateral tenectomy of the tensor veli palatini muscle on soft palate and nasopharyngeal function in exercising horses. Methods: 5 Standardbreds. Methods: Treadmill videoendoscopy was performed on 5 Standardbreds exercising at 50, 75, and 100% of the speed that produced maximum heart rate; tracheal and pharyngeal pressures were measured before and after surgery. Tenectomy of the tensor veli palatini muscle was performed bilaterally on each horse while under general anesthesia, using a transoral approach. Results: Peak inspiratory tracheal pressures were significantly...
Ramos MGDSN, Campos SDE, Strauch MA, Ott LC, Macieira DB, de Alencar NX, Lessa DAB.Indisputably, the use of antivenoms for the treatment of snakebite envenoming is beneficial for the victims. However, there are few studies addressing the effect of long-term hyperimmunization in inoculated horses. It is known that the injection of snake venoms and adjuvants leads to local and systemic reactions in horses, but little is known about the response of inflammatory proteins. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum proteins and the electrophoretic profile of horses undergoing crotalid venom hyperimmunization. Twenty horses were divided into two groups: an inoculated group, compr...
Kaneps AJ, Shires GM, Watrous BJ.The use of real-time ultrasound for examination of the bladder was a useful diagnostic aid in 2 cases of cystic calculi. The ultrasound procedure revealed that a firm mass palpated per rectum in the bladder of one horse was a calculus. In the other horse, ultrasound revealed additional small uroliths. To remove the uroliths in both horses, laparocystidotomy via a ventral paramedian approach was chosen because it provided the best access to the bladder lumen. The calculi were analyzed by qualitative chemical analysis and quantitative crystallography. Results differed between analysis methods. C...
Simons V, Weller R, Stubbs NC, Rombach N, Pfau T.Training and rehabilitation techniques which improve core muscle strength are beneficial for improvement of dynamic stability of the equine vertebral column. The Equiband™ system, consisting of resistance bands attached to a customised saddle pad, is suggested to provide constant proprioceptive feedback during motion to encourage recruitment of abdominal and hindquarter musculature. Objective: To quantify the effect of the Equiband™ system on back kinematics and movement symmetry. Methods: Longitudinal intervention study. Methods: Quantitative analysis of back movement and gait symmetry be...
Nakajima T, Matsumoto T.Horse racing in Japan consists of two systems, the National (10 racecourses) and the Regional public racing (32 racecourses) having about 2,500 racing meetings in total per year. Urine or saliva samples for dope testing are collected by the officials from thw winner, second and third, and transported to the laboratory in a frozen state. In 1975, 76, 117 samples were analyzed by this laboratory. The laboratory provides the following four methods of analysis, which are variously combined by request. (1) Method for detection of drugs extracted by chloroform from alkalinized sample. (2) Methods fo...
Lakritz J, Wilson WD, Marsh AE, Mihalyi JE.Plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics of erythromycin and related compounds were determined after administration of erythromycin ethylsuccinate to six healthy male foals 3 to 5 months of age. Hay was withheld from the foals overnight and erythromycin ethylsuccinate (25 mg/kg of body weight) was administered intragastrically. Plasma erythromycin concentrations were determined at specific times after drug administration by high-performance liquid chromatography assay. Maximum peak plasma concentrations, time to maximum concentrations, area under plasma concentration versus time curves, elim...
Sanches GL, Ribeiro LMF, Motta AP, Petrucci LBDV, Gobbi FP, Quirino CR, Di Filippo PA.This study aimed to compare the antinociceptive effects of tramadol 5% and lidocaine 2% on mental nerve block in horses of the Brazilian Pony breed. Eight adult non-pregnant mares were used in this study. The ponies were tranquilized with acepromazine (5 µg kg, IV), and the infiltration of the mental foramen was performed in Treatment 1- tramadol 5% (T, 150 mg) or Treatment 2- lidocaine 2% (L, 60 mg), both at a total dose of 3 ml in each foramen. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), rectal te...
