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.
Martins ALM, Estevam LGTM, Freire MA, Lima ACVMDR, de Oliveira FCB, Dutra-Rêgo F, Carvalho GML, Ribeiro VM, Paz GF.Equine leishmaniasis is a widespread disease in Brazil, mainly caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, with occasional cases involving Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum. This study reports a mixed infection in a 6-year-old mare from rural Itabirito, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The mare exhibited nodular cutaneous lesions on all limbs but had no other health issues. Skin and bone marrow samples were collected and analyzed using parasitological and molecular methods targeting the hsp70 gene and ITS1 region. Both L. (V.) braziliensis and L. (L.) infantum were identified, confirming a mixed infectio...
Rey-Conejo R, Toribio RE, Möller S, Müller E, Fores-Jackson P.Insulin dysregulation is a key component of equine metabolic syndrome and is commonly assessed using basal insulin concentrations. Different analyzers may yield variable insulin results, limiting comparability. Objective: To assess the analytical performance of the ADVIA Centaur XPT chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) for equine insulin measurement and to establish adapted decision thresholds based on comparison with a previously used CLIA method. Methods: Precision, linearity, and dilution recovery were assessed for the ADVIA Centaur XPT. A total of 89 equine serum samples submitted for basal...
Neto ME, Curcio BR, Rafael LA, Pivato GM, Silva GC, Souza RP, Mousquer MA, Nogueira CEW.The cesarian section (C-section) is a potential risk factor for retained fetal membranes (RFM) in mares, requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment to enhance outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the use of umbilical vessel infusion for the treatment of RFM after elective C-section in mares. Ten pregnant criollo type-mares at 315 days of gestation were monitored daily and underwent elective C-section upon readiness for birth. All mares exhibited RFM, with placentas retained beyond three hours careful extraction of the foal by C-section. Those were randomly assigned into two groups: Umbilical v...
Graham AE, Colgate VA, Floyd EF.Geographical specific data is required to guide empirical antimicrobial selection in equine neonates. Objective: Evaluate antibiograms and survival in foals from a United Kingdom (UK)-based hospital to guide antimicrobial selection. Methods: Blood and synovial fluid samples from 208 foals ≤ 30 days old admitted to Rossdales Equine Hospital from 2018 to 2023. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by disc diffusion method. Bacterial culture and susceptibility and foal survival were recorded. The effects of the presence of positive culture or multi...
Aboelmaaty AM, El-Seadawy IE, Kotp MS, Mohamed AA, El-Debaky HA, El-Badry DA, Anwer AM, Tsvetkov T, Daneva T, Elgabry MA.Alpha-tocopherol is one of the non-enzymatic lipophilic antioxidants. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a synthetic analog with similar modes of action in protecting the cryopreserved sperms. Objective: This study hypothesized that a certain concentration of any antioxidant is suitable for improving the post-thaw semen quality of stallions. Methods: To determine the optimum BHT concentration, a synthetic antioxidant similar to vitamin E in potency and scavenging oxidative stress power in concentrations of 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mM/ml were added to semen extender. The post-thaw sper...
Badr C, Arbi M, Souiai O, Larbi I, Nsiri J, Elbehi I, Bouslama Z, Bennour MA, Essaied MS, Ines Khosrof , Chabchoub A, Ben Aoun B, Ghram A, Lachheb J.Equine influenza (EI) is a highly contagious viral respiratory disease affecting equids, with the potential of causing widespread outbreaks across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and other regions of the world. In Tunisia, in the spring of 2021, an EI virus outbreak occurred in a farm housing purebred Arabian horses that exhibited respiratory signs. This outbreak led to a national lockdown on horse movements and the cancellation of equestrian events. A total of 432 serum samples, collected from 2018 to 2021, were tested using ELISA competition assay. In addition, 100 Nasal swabs were collected dur...
Wilson FE, Mair TS, Freeman SL.Referral treatment costs and insurance status impact treatment decisions for colic. Objective: To evaluate changes in the cost of referral treatment for colic, and insurance cover and premiums in the United Kingdom between 2018 and 2023. Methods: Cross sectional study. Methods: Thirty UK equine referral hospitals were contacted in January 2024 and asked about their colic caseload and costs of the last three cases across six categories (surgical +/- resection, euthanasia before, during or after surgery, and medical treatment), using similar methodology to a 2018 study. Data are reported as mean...
Hobbs KJ, Ueda Y, Le Sueur ANV, Cooper BL, Burke MJ, Sheats MK.To determine the effect of hemoperfusion with a polymer-based column on systemic cytokine concentrations and neutrophil dysfunction in lipopolysaccharide-treated horses in vivo. Unassigned: 6 university-owned horses received 60 ng/kg lipopolysaccharide, IV, as a bolus and then 60 ng/kg, IV, as a constant rate infusion over 1 hour. Endotoxemia was confirmed by clinical signs and neutropenia. In a crossover model that was completed from January 2024 through July 2024, hemoperfusion was performed for 4 hours with either a sham or polymer column. Blood was collected at 5 time points over a 72-hour...
Martin de Bustamante MG, Plummer CE, Caddey B, Gomez DE.Information regarding the impact of topical antibiotics with or without corticosteroids on the microbiota of the horses' eyes is limited. This study aimed to describe the bacterial ocular surface microbiota in healthy horses and evaluate the effect of topical antibiotics or antibiotic-corticosteroid medication on the ocular surface microbiota. Unassigned: This was a prospective, randomized, longitudinal, blinded study in which one eye of 12 horses was treated 3 times daily for 7 days with neomycin, polymyxin B and bacitracin ophthalmic ointment ( = 6) or neomycin, polymyxin B and dexametha...
Bannai H, Kambayashi Y, Kume K, Takebe N, Endo Y, Kawanishi N, Nemoto M, Tsujimura K.The endemic situation of respiratory disease caused by equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) and type-4 (EHV-4) was investigated in a training facility for Thoroughbred yearlings in Japan. Vaccination typically starts in mid-September or early October-only after all yearlings have arrived-leaving those introduced earlier unprotected. To bridge this immunity gap, a revised vaccination program that started earlier was implemented. In 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, yearlings were allocated to three groups according to their introduction dates. Each group received a live EHV-1 vaccine (Equi N Tect ERP, Niss...
Maeda Y, Kanno C, Sugiyama M, Yamamoto R, Sato S, Ando R, Noda R, Kawaguchi H, Takahashi F.A 17-year-old Thoroughbred stallion died suddenly after grazing. Necropsy revealed massive hemorrhage in the pericardial sac, suggesting cardiac tamponade. Aortic perforation was observed at the aortic origin, and hemorrhage was observed in and around the epicardium. Superficial observation of the aortic lumen revealed a transverse tear of the aortic wall at the bases of the right semilunar valve and septal semilunar valve. Fibro-osseous changes with calcification were histopathologically observed at the site of the rupture. A nodular goiter was observed in the left thyroid gland. The horse di...
Medina-Bolívar AL, Muñoz-Duque JD, Martínez-Aranzales JR.Information regarding Survivin protein expression in the gastric mucosa of equids is scarce. This protein has been associated with functions related to modulating apoptosis and promoting mitosis in epithelial cells and is considered part of gastric cytoprotection mechanisms in humans and mice, maintaining mucosal integrity and regulating cellular renewal. Objective: This study aimed to determine the expression of cytoplasmic and nuclear Survivin in gastric mucosae of equids (horses, donkeys, and mules). Methods: A total of 30 healthy stomachs, 10 from each species, were evaluated using histolo...
El-Shafaey ES, Hamed M, Amin Y, Alkhodair KM, Shousha S, Aljazzar A, El Sebaei MG, Mosbah E.External genitalia swellings represent diagnostic and treatment challenges in equids. Thus, the present study aimed to describe the clinical, histopathological, and treatment outcomes of external genitalia swellings in horses and donkeys. Unassigned: Seventy-five equids (49 horses and 26 donkeys) from 6 months to 8 years were enrolled based on the clinical evidence of external genital swellings. The descriptive details, including sex, age, lesion location, and treatment outcomes, for each case were recorded and analyzed. Unassigned: Twenty forms of external genital swellings were recorded ...
Merari A, Fielding L.To describe patient characteristics, laboratory data, fetal orientation, methods of correction, survival, and treatment in miniature equids with dystocia. Methods: Retrospective study conducted from January 2002 to June 2023. Methods: Equine referral hospital and field service. Methods: Seventy animals with a total of 78 instances of dystocia. Methods: None. Results: Recorded variables included signalment, clinicopathologic data, fetal presentation, correction method, survival to discharge, and complications. The survival of miniature equid mares was 94% (73/78), while survival of foals was 17...
Boros K, Dyson S, Pollard D, Nagy A.There are limited data on long-term follow-up of radiographic changes of the proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs) in Thoroughbred racehorses. The effect of training and racing on radiodensity of the PSBs in live Thoroughbreds has not been described. Objective: To follow radiographic changes of the PSBs in racehorses over 2 years and describe alterations in overall radiodensity. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: Forty yearlings were enrolled at the first examination (T0). Re-examinations were performed four times, approximately 6 months apart, on 31 (T1), 23 (T2), 13 (T3) and 8 (T4) horse...
Carroll AT, Reed RA, Perlini M, Clough AE, Rocha M, Moorman VJ.To evaluate the effect of cervical epidural injection of morphine alone and morphine in combination with detomidine on recovery from anesthesia in horses. Methods: Blinded, randomized, crossover, Latin square design. Methods: A group of six healthy adult horses aged 9 ± 3 years and weighing 471 ± 76 kg (mean ± standard deviation). Methods: Horses were administered each of three treatments during a 1 hour general anesthetic with a 4 day washout period. Treatments were: 1) cervical epidural injection of saline 0.011 mL kg (S); 2) morphine 0.1 mg kg (M); and 3) morphine 0.1 mg kg with detomidi...
Hopster K, Soares JHN, Levine D, Ortved K, Driessen B, Araos J.Flow-controlled expiration (FLEX) has been shown to significantly enhance oxygenation in horses under laboratory conditions. Objective: This study aims to corroborate these findings by evaluating the effects of FLEX on gas exchange in a randomised clinical trial involving a large population of clinical horses undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Methods: Prospective randomised clinical trial. Methods: A total of 406 healthy adult horses scheduled for elective orthopaedic procedures were recruited for this prospective clinical trial. Horses were randomly assigned to FLEX or VCV (volume-controlled ve...
Majcher AM, Troillet A, Gerlach K, Tönnies PR, Brehm W, Ulrich R.Nine days after a surgical intervention due to an injury of the left hind hoof capsule, a 9-y-old, 538-kg female Wielkopolski horse was found recumbent in its stall with an unplugged permanent intravenous catheter positioned in the left jugular vein. Despite immediate resuscitation attempts, the animal died within minutes. Suspecting venous air embolism, radiographic imaging and detailed postmortem examinations were performed. However, visualization of the heart by radiography was hindered by the animal's body mass and postmortem changes. The autopsy followed a modified Richter method, origina...
Myers TJ, Sampson SN, Glass KP, Russell LA.Central tarsal bone (CTB) fractures are challenging to diagnose, and cross-sectional imaging is required for definitive characterization and surgical planning. This retrospective case series aims to provide the first description of high-field (3-T) MRI characteristics of CTB fractures, concurrent pathology, and clinical presentation in 8 performance horses. Unassigned: 8 horses (9 limbs) diagnosed with a CTB fracture on high-field MRI at one tertiary referral hospital between 2013 and 2023 were identified via electronic medical records search. Unassigned: Quarter Horses (6 of 8) used for Weste...
Cormier KV, Fontenot RL, Eddy A, Williams ML, Wills RW, Jumper WI, Mochal-King CA.The objective of the study was to evaluate effects of intra-articular decellularized porcine amnion/chorion suspension (dPACLS) in horses. Methods: Controlled, randomized, prospective study. Methods: A total of 10 adult horses. Methods: One randomly selected radiocarpal joint (RCJ) was injected with a high dose (HD) of 50 mg (n = 5) or low dose (LD) of 5 mg of dPACLS (n = 5). The contralateral RCJ received saline as control. Systemic serum amyloid A (SAA), synovial fluid analysis (including SAA) and subjective lameness evaluation were performed prior to injection (time 0) and 24, 4...
Carroll AT, Reed RA, Berghaus LJ, McNabney D, Knych HK.To investigate the effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on thermal and mechanical thresholds and physiologic variables in horses. Unassigned: 6 horses (3 geldings and 3 mares) were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, masked crossover design from March 18 through May 3, 2025. Horses received 3.48 mg/kg CBD oil or placebo (sesame oil) orally every 24 hours for 3 days. Thermal and mechanical thresholds were determined at baseline and 4 and 12 hours after treatment administration on each day. Physiologic variables, including heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature, were recorded at the same...
Loyd A, Neto R, Caldwell F, Boone L, White A.This study aimed to determine the safety and macroscopic/microscopic effects of fluorescence biomodulation (FBM) on experimentally induced, full-thickness, distal limb wounds in horses.This was an experimental study ( = 6 horses). Two full-thickness wounds were created on both dorsal metacarpi of six adult horses. Each forelimb was randomly allocated to either control (no FBM) or treatment (FBM) and randomly allocated to visual or histological assessment of healing. Wounds were treated within each experimental group every 7 days for four treatments. Fluorescence biomodulation wounds were ...
Amari M, Brioschi FA, Auletta L, Ravasio G.Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) are non-pharmacological techniques employed in humans for chronic pain, but their veterinary application is unexplored. This pilot study evaluated clinical effects of RFA and PRF in twenty-four horses with chronic distal forelimb lameness. Ultrasound-guided RFA (N = 8; 60-90 °C, 2-8 min) or PRF (N = 16; 42 °C; 12 min) was applied to palmar digital nerves. Lameness was scored (American Association of Equine Practitioners scale) at baseline and monthly for six months (T1-T6). At T2, partial- and non-responders in both groups receive...
Durán MC, Suazo M, Maturana A, Vargas MP, García A, Ahumada C, Pezoa A, Goehring LS, Lara F.Equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is a neurological disease in horses caused by Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). It is a serious condition, often resulting in severe neurological deficits, and can be fatal. In this report, we discuss the first outbreak of EHM in Chile (clinical signs, epidemiology, diagnosis, and control measures). A total of 567 polo horses were kept at the facility: 58.4% mares, 41.6% geldings, and stallions. Mean age was 9.7 ± 0.132 years. Thirteen horses showed clinical signs of EHV-1, eight had fevers (1.4%), and eleven developed EHM (1.9%). Only six of the eleve...
Tolnai C, O'Sullivan C, Lőrincz M, Karvouni M, Tenk M, Marosi A, Forgách P, Paszerbovics B, Wagenhoffer Z, Kutasi O.West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne neurotropic virus that causes neurologic disease in both humans and horses. Yet the long-term cellular immune response following natural infection in horses remains poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the WNV-specific T-cell response in horses recovered from West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND). Twelve client-owned horses (4 Hungarian sport horses, 2 Lippizaners, 1 KWPN, 1 Shagya Arabian, 1 Friesian, 1 Gidran, 1 Andalusian, and 1 draft cross horse) with confirmed clinical WNV infection were enrolled, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells ...
Tranquille C, Nankervis K, Tacey J, Hopkins E, Deckers I, Walker V, MacKechnie-Guire R, Newton R, Murray R.Water treadmill (WT) exercise has become a popular tool for equine training and rehabilitation. However, few studies describe the long-term effects of WT exercise in low water on muscle development (MD). This study's objectives were to compare MD changes over a 40-week period in sport horses that regularly used WT in low water within training (Group WTH, = 55) and a control group that did not (control, = 28). Subjective MD assessments were undertaken using an adaptation of a previously published method at weeks 0, 20 and 40. For Group WTH, MD significantly increased in the neck, pelvis and h...
Lendl L, Wirth C, Merle R, Barton AK.Mild-moderate equine asthma (MEA) is a very common but underdiagnosed pulmonary disease in horses, with mild cases not showing clinical respiratory signs. This study evaluates the influence of a standardized lunging exercise test (SLET) on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology in MEA horses. We hypothesized that SLET would increase the total nucleated cell count (TNCC) and/or percentages of inflammatory cells associated with EA. In a prospective, randomized, non-blinded, between-subjects study design of two independent groups, 39 horses (17 mild and 22 moderate) were included. They were...
Dörner C, Lagos N, Oyaneder L, Menarim BC, Ramírez-Toloza G.Osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammatory joint disease and the leading cause of musculoskeletal disability affecting human and veterinary patients. New therapeutics halting inflammation while preserving joint homeostasis remain a critical need. Voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels regulate the pro-inflammatory response of macrophages in the synovium, the central driver of joint homeostasis. Neosaxitoxin (NeoSTX) is a phycotoxin that blocks NaV channels, conferring a unique potential to regulate joint inflammation. This study evaluated the safety of intra-articular administration of NeoSTX in hors...
Neira-Egea P, Alamar Malvoisin C, de la Cuesta-Torrado M, Bautista-Erler C, Vitale V, Jolly S, Cesarini C. spp. are ubiquitous yeasts that are part of most mammals' microbiota and can become opportunistic pathogens under predisposing conditions. Interestingly, recent studies in human medicine report an increased abundance of spp. in association with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Gastrointestinal candidiasis has been primarily reported in neonatal foals, but not in adult horses. The aim of this study is to describe the morphological, histopathological, and microbiological features of gastric lesions associated with infiltration in five horses referred to two tertiary hospitals for different r...
Gandini M, Bertone C, Giusto G.Castration remains a common surgical procedure in equids, yet postoperative complications such as hemorrhage, infection, and eventration persist, influencing surgical outcomes. This retrospective study introduced a novel modified semi-closed castration technique aimed at minimizing these complications. Eighty-five sexually intact mature male equids (including horses, ponies, and donkeys) underwent the described inguinal castration procedure under general anesthesia. The technique involved a carefully managed opening and subsequent secure closure of the parietal vaginal tunic, enabling direct i...
