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.
Science (New York, N.Y.)July 19, 1946
Volume 104, Issue 2690 53-54 doi: 10.1126/science.104.2690.53
Sulkin SE, Goth A, Zarafonetis C.Anesthesia, by ether, is effective in the treatment of western equine encephalomyelitis in mice. Of mice treated with deep ether anesthesia soon after the intracerebral injection of western equine virus, only 58 per cent developed the disease as compared with 92.4 per cent of control animals. When anesthesia was delayed the approximate length of the incubation period, 60 per cent of the animals developed the disease as compared with 92.4 per cent of the controls. In addition, ether anesthesia delays the development of central nervous system symptoms not only when administered soon after the in...
Piketh G, Viljoen A, Eberhardt C.Equine encephalosis (EE) is caused by an Orbivirus from the family Sedoreoviridae and is thus similar to African horse sickness (AHS) and Bluetongue viruses (BTV). These viruses are transmitted by Culicoides midges. Equine encephalosis can infect horses, donkeys and zebras sub-clinically while only horses develop clinical disease. The vector's distribution is climate-dependent with evidence for circulation in Southern Africa, the Middle East and India. Global warming could facilitate the expansion of this distribution and consequently the potential spread into Europe should not be overlooked. ...
Kyle-LaBell E, Andersson A, Baughman B.Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCE) was diagnosed in a 15-year-old pony mare by histopathologic examination of the spinal cord. The horse was euthanized and submitted for necropsy following focal seizures and lateral recumbency for approximately 12 h. Histopathology of spinal cord segments C5-C7 revealed severe ischemic myelomalacia with intravascular amorphous material that stained positive with Alcian Blue, consistent with cartilaginous matrix. These features in addition to the acute onset of clinical signs are characteristic for FCE. This case report describes the clinical and histo...
Racine J, Ungermann A, Blatter M, von Plato G, Rijkenhuizen ABM.To describe a modified two-portal tenoscopic technique for proximal manica flexoria (MF) resection designed to preserve the mesotendons (MTs) of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: Client-owned horses (n = 30). Methods: MF resection was performed in four steps: (1) Transection of the lateral attachment of the MF to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), staying abaxial to the lateral MT; (2) transection of the medial attachment of the MF to the SDFT between the flexor tendons from distal to proximal until reaching the level of the med...
Serighelli-Júnior G, Strugava L, de Oliveira Franco JD, Kulik K, Dornbusch PT, Machado M, Moreno JCD.To describe the detailed anatomy of the equine thoracoabdominal region and to compare the accuracy of ultrasound-guided versus blind intercostal nerve injection techniques, targeting the thoracic intercostal nerves (T12-T18) in equine cadavers. Methods: Randomized, blinded, cadaveric study. Methods: Eight fresh adult equine cadavers. Methods: Eight horse cadavers were used: one in phase I (436 kg; 4 years old) for anatomic landmarks identification and seven in phase II [420 (317-560 kg); 16 (3-22 years old) [median (minimum-maximum)] for comparative study. In phase I, dissections were performe...
McPeek JL, Menarim B, Sponseller B, McClendon M, Adam EN, Adams AA, Slone S, Page AE.Subjective lameness evaluations are critical components of equine musculoskeletal health assessments. Objective approaches can supplement diagnosis and may be preferred for specific cases and scientific purposes. Objective: Evaluate agreements between subjective evaluation of two veterinarians and standard clinical interpretations from outputs of an AI-based smartphone application (Sleip; AI-SPA), the inertial measurement unit (IMU) system Equinosis Q Lameness Locator (LL), and the IMU system Equisym (ES). Methods: In vivo experiment. Methods: Twenty-five research horses (10-30 years) were e...
Saberinia A, Ozmaei S, Anoushepour A.Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by infectious or non-infectious factors. Infectious conjunctivitis comes in two forms: viral and bacterial. Bacterial conjunctivitis is commonly caused by organisms such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, with the severity of the disease influenced by the specific bacterial species involved. Because both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are highly contagious, preventive measures are essential to reduce transmission-especially to the unaffected eye. Objective: To evaluate the tear film osmolality in horses with bacterial conjunctiv...
Góss GC, Mozzaquatro FD, Machado IRL, Gomes EM, Martins NR, Duarte CA.The collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint (CL-DIPJ) are important structures for athletic horses. Ligament injuries can cause lameness, but ultrasound imaging can detect such lesions, which usually present with changes in echogenicity and an increase in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the ligament. Measurements of these structures vary among authors, which complicates the diagnosis. Thus, this study aimed to describe the ultrasound measurements (dorsopalmar diameter [DPD], lateromedial diameter [LMD], and CSA) of the CL-DIPJ in Argentine Polo horses. We measured the CL-DIP...
McCrae P, Spong H, Moorehead J, Pearson W.A smart textile device has been developed for the recording of electrocardiograms (ECGs) in horses; however, the utility of this device for long-duration heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring and detection of physiological arrhythmias is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to validate a smart textile device for HRV over long durations (6 h) in resting horses. ECGs were recorded simultaneously via the Myant Skiin Equine textile device and a reference device (Televet 100) in 12 horses. ECGs were evaluated by a blinded observer for arrhythmias, and HRV metrics were calculated. ...
Jacobs ME, Blea J, Hardy M, McKemie DS, Traynham M, Knych HK.The racehorse industry has strict regulations regarding the detection of prohibited substances in horses. Metformin, a diabetes medication, is a prohibited substance that has been reported in post-race blood and urine samples collected from racehorses. For further characterization of the disposition of metformin, 12 Thoroughbred horses were administered metformin orally and intravenously in a randomized, balanced, two-way crossover design. Serum and urine samples were collected, and drug concentrations determined via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The serum data were analyzed ...
So YM, Kwok WH, Yuen SMS, Wong COL, Wan TSM, Ho ENM.This paper describes the detection of nandrolone decanoate and its metabolites in mane hair collected from horses that have been treated with nandrolone decanoate (Deca-Durabolin). The intramuscular administration study of nandrolone decanoate in three Thoroughbred castrated horses (each received 800 mg weekly for 3 consecutive weeks) was previously conducted to investigate its metabolism and detection time in plasma and urine for doping control purposes. In this work, segmental analysis of the post-administration hair has revealed that (i) nandrolone decanoate and its metabolites, nandrolon...
Stokes C, Natalini CC, Wills R, Eddy A, Mochal-King C, O'Shea C, Fontenot RL.To evaluate the analgesic properties and adverse effects of liposomal bupivacaine administered via caudal epidural in horses. Methods: Pharmacodynamic study. Methods: A total of 10 healthy adult horses. Methods: Liposomal bupivacaine (10 mL; 1.3%) was administered into the caudal epidural space via an indwelling epidural catheter inserted to a length of 15 cm. Mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) testing with pressure algometry was used to measure analgesia at four anatomic locations for 72 h following injection. Physical examinations (including rectal temperature, heart rate, respirat...
Rhodes AD, McCoy AM, Stewart MC, Gutierrez-Nibeyro SD.To evaluate postoperative racing performance of a population of Standardbred racehorses following arthroscopic removal of an osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) lesion of the femoropatellar joint. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: A total of 45 client-owned Standardbred racehorses. Methods: OCD lesions were measured and graded using the length of the subchondral bone defect from preoperative radiographs. Postoperative racing results were obtained from the United States Trotting Association, and follow-up owner surveys were conducted. A control group of contemporaneous paternal siblings free o...
Silva JA, Vasquetto A, Mouguelar H, Nader-Macías MEF, Pellegrino MS.Equine endometritis, a major cause of subfertility in mares, has a significant economic impact on horse breeding. In the face of rising antimicrobial resistance, the use of beneficial bacteria to prevent this disease is a non-antibiotic alternative which aligns with "One Health" principles. This study characterised vaginal autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from healthy mares. Out of the 25 presumptive LAB isolates obtained from 15 clinically healthy thoroughbred mares, 24 were confirmed. Surface properties were assessed (autoaggregation, hydrophobicity, biofilm formation, exopolysacchar...
Sala-Ayala L, Cuervo-Arango J, Martínez Boví R.Endometrial edema is an ultrasonographic sign of estrus in mares and is positively associated with fertility. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of follicular size, systemic progesterone (P4), and exogenous estradiol benzoate (EB) on the onset and duration of endometrial edema. In Experiment 1, anestrus (n = 4) and diestrus mares (n = 4) received 4 mg of EB intramuscularly; edema scores and plasma P4 were monitored over four days. In a complementary group (n = 5), mares were monitored until ovulation, then administered 4 mg of EB and examined every 12 h for 48 h. In Experimen...
Martin-Pelaez S, Orsolini M, Verstraete M, de la Fuente A, Takahashi K, Meyers S, Dini P.Equine in vitro embryo production (IVP) offers a valuable opportunity to enhance the efficient utilization of genetically and economically valuable horses. In cases of subfertility, sudden death, emergency euthanasia, or limited sperm availability, IVP becomes the only viable option to produce offspring. Due to steadily improving success rates, IVP has become one of the most sought-after assisted reproductive techniques. The rising global demand has created a clear need for veterinarians and stallion owners to provide IVP-suitable sperm, where the selection of intact sperm for intracytoplasmic...
Hellige M, Schröder C, Seehusen F, Rohn K, Geburek F.Computed tomographic myelography (CTM) is diagnostic for extradural spinal cord compression but knowledge about vertebral ratios from transverse images in flexion and normal position of unaffected horses is lacking. Objective: To compare the ratios of the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the spinal cord, the vertebral canal and of the contrast enhanced dural tube on transverse CTM images at C3-C4 in neutral and flexed positions in unaffected Warmbloods. Methods: CTM was performed in 13 neurologically unaffected Warmbloods in neutral and flexed cervical vertebral column positions. Ratios were ca...
McDonald S, Verheyen KLP, Chang YM, Allen SE.Race-related injuries in horse racing, especially those requiring extended recovery, are a welfare concern and threaten the sport's social licence. Previous studies predominantly report on fatalities; however, serious non-fatal musculoskeletal injuries often end horses' racing careers or have a high recurrence risk. No recent studies have described or quantified long-term injuries (LTIs) in racing Thoroughbreds, which is essential to inform targeted risk prevention strategies. Objective: To describe the types, frequencies and incidences of LTIs in British jump racing. Methods: Retrospective co...
Melanie Catanchin CS, Bell J, Labens R, Quinn CT.Detomidine hydrochloride is an alpha adrenoceptor agonist that is commonly used in equine practice to provide sedation and analgesia for horses undergoing standing procedures. Reported effects following intravenous administration of detomidine in horses include bradycardia, bradyarrhythmias, transient hypertension, sweating, piloerection and dose-dependent sedation, ataxia and analgesia. This case report describes a novel response characterised by tachycardia and profound muscle tremors following the administration of intravenous detomidine to a horse undergoing a standing procedure.
Training on deep sand is commonly employed in endurance horses, but its physiological adaptation remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to characterize locomotor adaptations during a 7 km controlled-speed canter on deep sand in eighteen endurance horses, to identify heart rate variability (HRV) components, and to investigate changes in hematological variables before and after exercise. Stride frequency (SF) and stride length (SL), HRV, and hematological profiles were recorded during exercise and recovery with a fitness tracker. Associations between maximum speed and locomotor parameter...
Papini L, de Preux M, Pauwels F, Missotten J, Van der Vekens E.(1) Background: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is increasingly used in equine practice to diagnose musculoskeletal injuries, including fractures in the distal limb. However, limited detail in the thick cortical bone of the metacarpus/metatarsus hinders accurate diagnosis. In human medicine, the addition of aluminum filters (AF) enhanced image quality while reducing radiation exposure. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of AF on image quality in CBCT scans of equine distal limbs. (2) Methods: Adult equine cadaver limbs were scanned with a mobile CBCT unit using varying tube currents ...
Chiavaccini L, Moura RA, Azevedo TMBPR, De Gennaro C, Vettorato E, Romano M, Portela DA.Dexmedetomidine improves pulmonary function in dogs and humans, but evidence in horses is scarce. This study evaluated dexmedetomidine infusion on oxygenation and respiratory mechanics in anesthetized horses. Twenty horses undergoing elective surgery were included in a prospective, non-randomized, observational study. Horses received either lidocaine alone (1.3 mg/kg over 15 min, then 3 mg/kg/hour; LIDO) or combined with dexmedetomidine (1.75 μg/kg over 15 min, then 1.75 μg/kg/hour; DL). Respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, and cardiovascular variables were recorded at baseline, post-loading...
Mitlyng N, Hobbs KJ, Cooper BL, Sheats MK.Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is frequently used in equine research to model clinical endotoxemia; however, there is no standardized protocol for inducing cytokine production in equine whole blood. To address this knowledge gap, the goal of this study was to compare the cytokine responses elicited by three different LPS stimulation protocols. Whole blood was collected from six healthy horses (aged 5-30 years; mixed breeds and genders) from the North Carolina State University teaching herd (IACUC #23-412). Sixty milliliters of heparinized blood were aseptically drawn and divided into 15 mL aliquots....
Clark KF, Lemcke RA, Gasiorowski JC, Wagner B.Lyme arthritis, a well-documented subtype of arthritis in humans and dogs, is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and spread primarily through ticks (Ixodes spp.). While Lyme disease in horses is known to cause a variety of clinical signs, its involvement in the development of equine arthritis is controversial. As climate change enables tick populations to expand, more horses could be exposed to B. burgdorferi; therefore, a greater understanding of how Lyme disease affects joints is critical to preserving soundness. Objective: To determine if systemic, naturally occurring Lyme disease had a discern...
Wang T, Huang J, Ren W, Meng J, Yao X, Chu H, Yao R, Zhai M, Zeng Y.This study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms underlying the relationship between cardiac structure and function and plasma metabolic characteristics in Yili horses participating in an 80-km endurance, by integrating echocardiography, lipidomics, and energy metabolomics analyses. Twenty four competing Yili horses were selected and divided based on competition outcomes: Pre-Completion Group: PCG ( = 6); Post-Completion Group: PoCG ( = 6); Overtime Completion Group: OCG ( = 6); and Non-Completion Group: NCG ( = 6). Cardiac structural and functional parameters were assessed via echoca...
This study presents the first investigation of West Nile virus (WNV) seroprevalence among farmed horses in Kazakhstan. In 2024, a total of 368 serum samples were collected from horses across 106 settlements in 10 regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), antibodies to WNV were detected in 32 horses (8.7%; 95% CI: 6.2-12.0%) from six regions. Among the seropositive animals, 26 (81.25%) were females and 6 (18.75%) were males, ranging in age from 1 to 19 years. No statistically significant association between sex and the presence of antibodies to W...
Varandas M, Lozano J, Agrícola R, Gomes L, Rosa T, Magalhães M, Lamas L, Rinaldi L, Oliveira M, Paz-Silva A, Madeira de Carvalho L.The diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) strongyle infections in equids is still mainly performed using quantitative coprological techniques, like the McMaster (McM), but more sensitive and precise techniques, like FLOTAC (FL) and Mini-FLOTAC (MF), have been proposed over the past 20 years. The present study aimed to compare the analytical performance of these three methods in the diagnosis of strongyle infections in horses. Between October 2023 and June 2024, 32 fecal samples were processed using the McM, FL and MF techniques to identify strongyles' eggs, estimate their shedding (eggs per gram ...
Tainturier D, Tainturier B, Michaud S, Briand-Amirat L, Topie E, Moreno D.A total of 147 mares of different breeds (110 were sport or race horses, often very valuable) have been monitored over 5 years from 2012 to 2016. When at or near term, the mares were monitored in order to induce foaling, by checking the mammary development by palpation, analysing the colour and consistency of the precolostrum, estimating the calcium and antibodies concentrations in the precolostrum and by measuring the plasmatic progestagens concentration every day at 6 p.m. At the end of gestation, it has been observed that the progestagens rate levelled off (the top concentration varies from...
