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.
Rudnick MJ, Stewart HL, Burleson MD, Levine DG.Slow hoof growth poses a clinical challenge when hoof wear exceeds natural growth. Many treatment options have been reported without controlled prospective trials. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of transdermal CO2 on the rate of growth in treated hooves. Methods: A prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover study of 14 Warmblood mares. Horses were randomly assigned a number and allocated for treatment of the front feet with room air or CO2 for 30 minutes 3 times per week, and groups were switched after 5 weeks. Hoof growth was measured on the dorsal midline and the qua...
Prutton J, Tucker R.Neoplasia has been reported to involve the majority of the urinary system of the horse, with tumors affecting the kidneys and bladder most comprehensively described. Primary tumors of the external genitalia are relatively common in the horse and are easily identified on clinical examination while primary tumors of the upper urogenital tract are uncommon. This article will highlight the common tumors, their clinical presentations, and discuss potential medical and surgical treatment options available. The less common neoplasms will be mentioned but not discussed in depth.
Long AE, Hurcombe S, Hopster K.To compare the ability of bioreactance noninvasive cardiac output (BR-NICO) with thermodilution cardiac output (TDCO) for the measurement of cardiac output (CO) in healthy adult horses receiving 2 different IV volume replacement solutions. Methods: Prospective randomized crossover study from September to November 2021. Methods: University teaching hospital. Methods: Six university-owned adult horses. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to receive 7.2% hypertonic saline solution (HSS) or 6% hydroxyethyl starch (130/0.4) solution (HETA). BR-NICO and TDCO were measured simultaneously at baseli...
Américo L, Aquino LPCT, Moura AB, Ribeiro GSN, Fonteque JH, Chryssafidis AL.Habronemosis, also known as habronemiasis or habronematidosis, is a parasitic disease of equids caused by the larval stages of Habronematidae nematodes (Habronema muscae, Habronema microstoma, and Draschia megastoma) that are transmitted by muscid flies. The presence of aberrant infective larvae in the cutaneous and conjunctival tissues of these hosts results in granulomatous, exudative, and ulcerated lesions, also known as "summer sores." In this study, we present a retrospective analysis of habronemosis cases in horses from the municipality of Lages, located on the Santa Catarina Plateau, a ...
Franzen V, Gruber NA, Klußmann S, Schoster A, May A.Trigeminal-mediated headshaking is a neuropathic facial pain condition in horses. No treatment has been entirely successful. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is used in human medicine as a treatment for various neuropathic pain conditions, and good results have been achieved in cases of trigeminal neuralgia. Objective: Apply rTMS to horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking (TMHS) and to evaluate tolerability, application of the setting, and success rate. Methods: Seventeen horses with nonseasonal signs of TMHS. Methods: Other underlying causes of headshaking were ruled ou...
Samuels A, Burns TA.Lymphoma and myeloproliferative diseases in horses are relatively uncommon. The clinical signs, prognosis, and treatment options depend upon the anatomic location and subtype. Significant gaps in knowledge remain regarding prevalence, pathogenesis of different subtypes, antemortem diagnostic tests, response to treatment, and standardized treatment protocols. However, treatment options are available, accessible on the farm, and could improve quality of life and prolong survival.
Fintl C, Wilkins PA.There are a number of unusual tumors in the horse. Gross tumor characteristics, anatomical location, and signalment may assist with identification. Clinical pathology is often unrewarding with non-specific findings, while fine needle aspirates may not obtain sufficient tissue material to confirm a diagnosis. Although regular staining of biopsy material may be sufficient, immunohistochemistry markers may be required, especially in less differentiated tumors. The prognosis is dependent on the type, location, tumor size as well as on metastatic spread. A selection of unusual and rare tumors that ...
Adam E, Scollay M, Howard B, Taormina J, Hartmann P, Knych H.Levamisole is a regulated substance sometimes administered to racehorses to treat equine protozoal myelitis. Metabolites include compound II, aminorex, and pemoline. Aminorex and pemoline are Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority-banned substances. Previous studies have examined single doses of the drug. This study examined the disposition of levamisole after 7 days of dosing. Methods: 6 healthy Thoroughbred geldings. Methods: Horses were treated with 500 mg (approx 0.91 to 1 mg/kg) of compounded levamisole hydrochloride paste PO every 12 hours for a total of 13 doses over 7 days. Serum a...
MacKechnie-Guire R, Williams JM, Fisher D, Nankervis K.The horse owner and the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) are responsible for safeguarding horse welfare by ensuring the equipment being used is correctly fitted. The aim of this study was to investigate how saddle fit is assessed, managed, and acted upon by equestrian professionals. Participants ( = 483) completed an online questionnaire, which was split into three major sections: (1) participant demographics; (2) saddle fit for the horse; and (3) saddle fit for the rider. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis, and univariable and multivariable analyses were performed ( < 0.05). Inductive con...
Bielińska K, Butkiewicz AF, Ziemak H, Zdun M.Due to the growing interest among veterinarians and the increasing market demands, the development of equine cardiology is necessary. Currently, veterinary medicine for companion animals needs to catch up to human medicine-equine medicine included. A common condition in older horses is aortic valve regurgitation resulting from fibrosis, while its more severe form occurs in younger horses or develops due to a bacterial infection. Mitral valve regurgitation, especially dangerous due to the possibility of sudden death, has a better prognosis if the horse has valve prolapse. Tricuspid valve regurg...
In recent decades, the integration of horses (Equus ferus) in European rewilding initiatives has gained widespread popularity due to their potential for regulating vegetation and restoring natural ecosystems. However, employing horses in conservation efforts presents important challenges, which we here explore and discuss. These challenges encompass the lack of consensus on key terms inherent to conservation and rewilding, the entrenched culture and strong emotions associated with horses, low genetic diversity and high susceptibility to hereditary diseases in animals under human selection, as ...
Knych HK, Blea J, Scollay M, Kass PH, McKemie DS.Ethanol, a central nervous system depressant and banned substance in horseracing, has reportedly been administered to horses prior to competition to "calm a horse's nerves." In this study, the pharmacokinetics of two metabolites of ethanol were studied to better understand the behavior of this compound in the horse and provide a scientific basis for regulation of its administration. Six horses received a single intravenous (30 mL; 1200 mg) and oral (90 mL; 3600 mg) administration of ethanol (vodka, 40% ABV) in a balanced cross-over design. Blood and urine samples were collected at vari...
Caure S, Dendauw P, Thesee L, Villedey E, Malinvaud A, Cousty M, Prie V, Horan K, Weller R.There is a paucity of scientific data on the effect of shoeing on equine neck and back kinematics during locomotion over commonly used sand training surfaces. A better appreciation of how alterations at hoof-ground interface influence equine upper body movements is relevant for improving horse's health and performance. Our objectives were to determine the effects of different shoeing conditions on equine neck and back kinematics at walk and trot in straight line over sand. Two-dimensional kinematic video analysis was performed under seven shoeing conditions: front feet shod with aluminum shoes...
Knych HK, Steinmetz SJ, Traynham ML, McKemie DS, Kass PH.Morphine is an effective analgesic in horses, however, IV administration at therapeutic doses has been shown to produce dose-dependent neuroexcitation and unwanted gastrointestinal effects. The analgesic effects of morphine have, at least in part, been attributed to the morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) metabolite. Oral administration to horses results in comparable M6G concentrations to that achieved following IV administration of a therapeutic dose without the adverse effects. The anti-nociceptive effects have not yet been reported. In the current study the thermal anti-nociceptive effects of sin...
Kopec EK, Stevens M, Crowe O, Wright C, Suthers J.The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term survival and postoperative complications in horses that had undergone small intestinal resection and a modified anastomosis technique using a partially stapled, functional end-to-end anastomosis. Methods: Observational retrospective case series. Methods: A total of 25 horses underwent small intestinal resection and a partially stapled, functional end-to-end anastomosis. Methods: A modified technique to create a partially stapled, functional end-to-end anastomosis is described. The clinical case records of all horses that fulfilled t...
Cole RC, DeGraves FJ, Schumacher J, Brown J.To determine the effect of 1.5 mL 2% mepivacaine, 0.75 mL 2% mepivacaine, and a combination of 0.75 mL 2% mepivacaine with epinephrine (1:200,000 solution) administered over each palmar digital nerve (PDN) to 6 horses with naturally occurring lameness caused by digital pain. Methods: In a crossover study design, 6 horses with forefoot-related lameness were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Each group received, on different study days, a PDN block using 1.5 mL of 2% mepivacaine, 0.75 mL 2% mepivacaine, or 0.75 mL of a combination of 2% mepivacaine and epinephrine (1:200,000 solution) injected...
Stutsel M, Jordan L, Smith C, Lee WY, Symonds N, Bell R, Young A.Foot-related lameness is common in Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorses. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides information on both the soft tissue and osseous structures of the distal extremity. The aim of this study was to determine whether abnormalities identified on distal limb MRI differed between these two racehorse populations. Methods: The records of Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorse distal extremity MRI examinations conducted at Camden Equine Centre and Ballarat Veterinary Practice between 2013 and 2023 were retrieved. Horses were included if pain causing lameness had bee...
Barton CK, True A, Fenn M, Thampi P, Watson A, Smanik LE.The objective of this Case Report was to describe the clinical manifestation and postmortem findings of a horse evaluated for recurrent colic diagnosed with pyloric aplasia and an ectopic duodenal papilla. Methods: 13-year-old Quarter Horse gelding. Unassigned: The horse was presented to a referral center for signs of colic that were unresponsive to management on the farm. No abnormalities were noted on rectal palpation; however, upon passage of a nasogastric tube, 31 L of net gastric reflux was obtained. Gastroscopy noted grade IV squamous ulceration and moderate glandular ulceration, severe ...
Monteiro LC, Costa CM, Ermita PAN, Júnior SJPG, Mattos FS, Mansur FC, Dos Santos MO, Alves SR, Mafort EG, Fidélis CF, Avanza MFB, Teixeira RBC....In adult horses, the development and evaluation of enteral electrolyte solutions containing sodium acetate for correcting hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis are still lacking, although these electrolyte and acid-base imbalances are commonly observed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the alkalinizing effect of two enteral electrolyte solutions containing different concentrations of acetate, administered via nasogastric tube in continuous flow, in adult horses with experimental hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Unassigned: Six mares aged between 3 and 10 years were used in a 6×2 cr...
Neufang L, Ramos J, Eda S, Flatland B, Giori L.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a neurodegenerative disease of senior horses. Loss of dopaminergic inhibition of the melanotropes of the pars intermedia leads to increased concentrations of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides. Diagnosis is challenging due to pre-analytical variables, such as sample storage, handling, and time to analysis. Our objective was to develop an ELISA for ACTH measurement, which could ultimately form the basis for a stall-side equine ACTH test. We selected 2 ACTH-specific monoclonal antibodies, CBL57 and EPR20361-248, based on the recognition o...
Delcourt V, Garcia P, Chabot B, Aber N, Pescher M, Cacault M, Scholtes P, Loup B, Barnabé A, Popot MA, Bailly-Chouriberry L.Thymosin 4 (TB4) is a ubiquitous, highly conserved and abundant peptide among mammals with a critical role in cytoskeleton organization. In spite of its yet non-authorized use as a medicine and being forbidden by the IFHA, the FEI, and the WADA, intelligence and doping control laboratories reported numerous products available online claiming to contain a synthetic acetylated fragment of TB4 or TB4 itself, promoted as a growth factor with regenerative properties. In this article, the first estimation of the endogenous TB4 concentration in racing horses' blood samples was performed through a po...
Cheung HW, Wong KS, Tam JCL, Farrington AF, Bond AJ, Wan TSM, Ho ENM.Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) continue to be a significant threat to the integrity of human and equine sports. Besides conventional direct testing, monitoring the biomarkers associated with the effects of ESAs may provide a complementary approach via indirect detection to enhance doping control. In this study, we applied label-free proteomics to discover plasma protein biomarkers in Thoroughbred geldings after administration with a long-acting form of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO), methoxy polyethylene glycol epoetin beta, Mircera. Increased haematocrit, haemoglobin and r...
Caivano D, Cicogna M, Orvieto S, Spitale D, Porciello F.A 16-year-old horse, 400 kg, male, Quarter horse gelding was examined for a cardiac murmur that had not been previously heard. Physical examination revealed a regularly irregular pulse and a grade III/VI, decrescendo, diastolic murmur with a point of maximum intensity over the left heart base. Base-apex standard electrocardiographic examination at rest showed sinus rhythm with second-degree atrio-ventricular blocks. Echocardiography identified the presence of four aortic valve cusps, two equal larger and two unequal smaller cusps. Color flow Doppler examination showed a diastolic regurgitant j...
Derbala MK, Abu-Seida AM, El-Metwally AE, Asfour HAE.Embryo transfer (ET) is regarded as one of the reproductive methods for genetic improvement initiatives in the horse business. The current study aimed to increase the success rate of ET by re-flushing and re-transferring of embryos from contaminated recipient mares into second healthy recipients. The study involved 25 recipient mares that demonstrated embryonic vesicles inside intraluminal fluid (ILF) on ultrasound scanning 2 ± 0.5 days after ET. Seven recipient mares were left without re-flushing and re-transferring of embryos (control group) and 18 recipient mares (treated group) were subje...
Carpenter AL, Townsend KS, Johnson PJ, Kim DY.An 8-y-old National Show Horse mare was presented for evaluation of pneumonia and laminitis. Harsh bronchovesicular sounds were auscultated throughout both lung fields, and the mare had signs of moderately painful laminitis. Thoracic ultrasonography revealed lung consolidation throughout the dorsal aspect of both lungs, and radiography revealed an extensive diffuse-to-patchy bronchointerstitial lung pattern. The mare's clinical condition rapidly deteriorated, and euthanasia was elected. On postmortem examination, the lungs, omentum, spleen, liver, adrenal glands, kidneys, and femur contained 0...
Faghihi H, Gharibi A, Ansari Mood M, Rajaei SM, Alavi SM.The aim of this study was to detect and describe ocular abnormalities in a population of Turkmen horses. Methods: A total of 55 Turkmen horses (33 mares and 22 stallions) from one herd were evaluated in this study. Methods: Demographic data (Age, Sex, Coat color) were recorded. All animals underwent complete ophthalmic examination. The Schirmer tear test -I (STT-I) was performed for all horses prior to other diagnostic tests. Neuro-ophthalmic examinations (menace response, dazzle reflex, pupillary light reflex, maze test, and visual tracking) were carried out in different lighting situations (...
Hoey S, Fogarty U, McAllister H, Puggioni A, Cloak B, Richard H, Skelly C, Laverty S.Articular cartilage can be directly imaged using ultrasonography. The fetlock is a common site of osteochondrosis, with the sagittal ridge of the third metacarpal bone most commonly affected. In osteochondrosis, cartilage thickening may be an initial finding. This postmortem study investigated the ability of ultrasonography to accurately measure the dorsodistal articular cartilage of the third metacarpal bone in young horses, compared to computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) and histological measurements. A total of 33 metacarpophalangeal joints from 18 horses between the ages of 12 days and...
