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Topic:Veterinary Medicine
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.
Effects of constant rate infusion of a fixed-dose combination of medetomidine and vatinoxan on sedation, cardiorespiratory variables, and gastrointestinal activity in standing Thoroughbred horses. A fixed-dose combination of medetomidine (MED) and vatinoxan (VTX), a peripherally selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonist, is commercially available, but its constant rate infusion (CRI) has not been evaluated. Objective: To compare the sedative effects, cardiorespiratory variables, and gastrointestinal activity of MED-VTX and MED-atipamezole (ATIP) with MED alone in Thoroughbred horses. Methods: Six healthy Thoroughbreds underwent a blinded three-treatment, three-period crossover study. Horses received MED (7 μg/kg IV; 5 μg/kg/h CRI for 60 min) alone (gM), with VTX (140 μg/kg IV; 100 μg/kg...
Retrospective investigation of equine parvovirus-hepatitis in Italy. Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) has recently been identified as the etiological agent of Theiler's disease, a major cause of acute hepatitis and liver failure in horses. While iatrogenic transmission of EqPV-H is well-documented, the natural horizontal transmission of the virus remains poorly understood. This study provides the first comprehensive epidemiological investigation and molecular characterization of EqPV-H in equine populations across Italy. A total of 1320 archival serum samples from northern and southern Italy were screened for the presence of EqPV-H DNA by qPCR. The overall ...
Comparison of blind end closure techniques in equine ileum. To determine the difference in bursting pressure (BP), bursting wall tension (BWT), and closure speed between commonly utilized methods of ileal stump closure. Methods: Randomized experimental study. Methods: A total of 71 ileal segments from 18 healthy horses. Methods: Ileum was collected postmortem from 18 horses and divided into four segments. One end of each segment was closed using one of three techniques: Parker-Kerr (PK), gastrointestinal staples (ST), or gastrointestinal staples with a Lembert staple oversew (SO). Closure time was recorded. Control (C) segments were not altered. Segmen...
Association of submaximal exercise test variables with diagnosis of asthma in a mixed-breed cohort of leisure horses. Submaximal exercise tests (SET) are used to assess respiratory health in various contexts. The diagnostic value of SETs for the assessment of asthma in the field remains uncertain. Objective: A SET helps distinguish healthy horses and asthma phenotypes. Methods: Twenty-six privately owned mixed-breed leisure horses of a clinical cohort. Horses were healthy (8) or diagnosed with mild (miEA) (4), moderate (modEA) (7), or severe asthma (sEA) (7) according to history, clinical examination, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology. Methods: Cross-sectional study using clinical data and samp...
Serum osteocalcin is associated with scintigraphic abnormalities in lame and clinically sound racehorses. Musculoskeletal injury is a major welfare and economic challenge in racehorses, with stress-related bone injury contributing to training interruption and catastrophic failure. Advanced imaging modalities can detect early skeletal pathology but remain limited in routine screening environments. Circulating biomarkers of bone turnover may provide complementary indicators of skeletal remodelling but require validation against objective imaging findings. Objective: Evaluate whether osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), or the CTX/OC ratio, are associated with scintig...
Residual contamination in nebulization medication cups after corticosteroid administration: an in vitro assessment with implications for equine doping control. Nebulization is increasingly used to administer respiratory medications in horses. However, the potential for residual contamination in medication cups after administering regulated substances raises concerns about inadvertent doping. Objective: To evaluate whether medication cups used for nebulization of corticosteroids can subsequently be used for administration of non-regulated substances without detectable carryover. Methods: In vitro experimental study. Methods: Three corticosteroids (budesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone propionate) were nebulized using Flexineb™ medication cups. Foll...
Myocardial dysfunction associated with low-dose endotoxin administration in adult horses. Horses with endotoxemia have variable myocardial function, but little is known about the severity or persistence of myocardial dysfunction (MD). Objective: Horses with experimentally induced endotoxemia have systolic and diastolic MD. Methods: Twelve systemically healthy horses. Methods: Horses were given Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide 30 ng/kg over 60 min. Echocardiography and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) measurements were performed at baseline, 1, 3, and 5 h post-endotoxin. Fluid therapy (10 L), polymyxin B (6000 IU/kg), and flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg) were administered intravenou...
Use of clinical findings to distinguish between intestinal lymphoma or inflammatory bowel disease in horses. Identifying clinical findings that are distinct between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and intestinal lymphoma could be helpful for providing preliminary guidance for clients regarding their horse's prognosis while awaiting histopathologic results. Objective: To describe and compare the clinical findings of horses with a final histopathologic diagnosis of IBD vs intestinal lymphoma. Methods: Forty-six adult (≥1-year-old) horses with a final histopathologic diagnosis of IBD or intestinal lymphoma on endoscopic duodenal biopsy, surgical biopsy, or necropsy. Methods: Retrospective single-cent...
Seroprevalence and associated epidemiological drivers of glanders in horses: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2002-2026). Glanders (malleus), a highly contagious zoonotic disease caused by Burkholderia mallei, remains an important transboundary disease of equids despite extensive control efforts in many countries. However, its epidemiological patterns and associated drivers have not been comprehensively synthesized. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of glanders in horses and identify key epidemiological drivers based on studies published up to April 27, 2026. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, ProQu...
Effects of Repeated Monopolar Pulsed Capacitive Radiofrequency Energy Treatments on Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds and Skin Temperature in Show-Jumping Horses with Thoracolumbar Pain. This study evaluated the effects of repeated monopolar Capacitive Resistive Electrical Transfer (CRET) therapy on mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) and skin surface temperature in horses with perceived chronic thoracolumbar pain. Fifteen show-jumping horses were enrolled in a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial. Ten horses received treatment, and five underwent a sham procedure. Five treatment sessions were performed at 72 h intervals using a monopolar capacitive radiofrequency device operating at 500 kHz. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) were assessed before treatment, afte...
Significant changes occur in the ultrasonographic appearance of the lungs in horses following exploratory celiotomy. General anesthesia for short periods of time in healthy horses for elective procedures produces minimal ultrasonographic changes in the lungs, but the effect of general anesthesia for exploratory celiotomy in horses has not previously been investigated. The objective of this study was to identify the degree of ultrasonographic changes in the lungs of horses following exploratory celiotomy and to identify risk factors that could increase the magnitude of change. 63 horses ≥ 2 years of age undergoing exploratory celiotomy were initially enrolled in a prospective observational study. Signalme...
Warmed intravenous fluid administration attenuated a reduction in body temperature in anaesthetised horses. Peri-anaesthetic hypothermia is a well-documented complication of general anaesthesia and is associated with prolonged recovery, impaired wound healing, and delayed coagulation. Fluid warmers can be used to mitigate heat loss, but there is little evidence supporting their effectiveness in equine anaesthesia. Objective: To determine whether administration of warmed intravenous fluids attenuates heat loss during general anaesthesia in horses. Methods: Prospective, randomised, crossover in vivo experiment. Methods: Six healthy adult horses were anaesthetised twice and administered intravenous flu...
Factors influencing veterinary student interest in equine practice in the United States: A focus group study. The number of new veterinary graduates entering equine practice in the United States continues to decline, and more than half leave the field within 5 years. Understanding the perspectives of veterinary students is critical for developing interventions that promote retention and long-term career satisfaction in equine medicine. Objective: To explore what factors influence veterinary student interest in and commitment to equine practice using the Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory as a guiding framework. Methods: Qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured student focus groups. Me...
[Determination of 33 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug residues in horse urine by QuEChERS-ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry]. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （NSAIDs） are often used to treat horses' injuries and pain due to long-term training and competitions. In equestrian competitions， NSAIDs do not affect the upper limit of a horse's athletic ability， but they can enable the horse to perform close to its maximum capacity by reducing inflammation and pain. This not only affects the competition results， but also fails to ensure the health and welfare of the horses. Therefore， it has become crucial to effectively monitor and control NSAIDs residues during equestrian competition. In this study， a r...
Simplified ultrasound-guided technique improves accuracy of median nerve perineural injection compared to “blind” techniques in equine ex vivo specimens. To assess the feasibility of a simplified ultrasound-guided technique (SUGT) for perineural injection of the median nerve ex vivo, to determine and compare the accuracy of 3 techniques for perineural injection of the median nerve (SUGT, "blind" proximal, and "blind" distal), and to evaluate and compare the dye distribution following perineural injection of the median nerve following each technique. Unassigned: This was an ex vivo experimental study performed on thoracic limbs (from April through October 2025). Simplified ultrasound-guided technique and blind proximal were performed in paired l...
Thyroid Diseases. Thyroid hormones in horses fluctuate with factors like time of day, diet, activity, or medications. True hypothyroidism is rare in adults, and other causes for the observed clinical signs, such as equine metabolic syndrome, should be considered. Hyperthyroidism can occur in older horses and is sometimes associated with clinical signs requiring surgical treatment. In neonatal foals, distinct forms of hypothyroidism are associated with dysmaturity and can be life-threatening. While thyroid supplementation can help in managing equine metabolic syndrome, inappropriate use can impair athletic perfo...
Scintigraphic Characteristics of the Occipitoatlantoaxial Region in Clinically Sound Horses. The equine occipitoatlantoaxial (OAA) region is biomechanically complex, yet normative scintigraphic reference data for this area are lacking. This retrospective study characterized the physiological radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern in the OAA region of 60 clinically sound horses, assigned equally into four age groups: under 6 years (Group A), 6-10 years (Group B), 11-15 years (Group C), and over 15 years (Group D). A standardized, semiquantitative analysis of lateral bone-phase scintigrams was performed using region of interest (ROI) ratios to determine uptake patterns. A highly consist...
Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Dysregulation. Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is defined as a collection of metabolic and clinical features that contribute to the development of hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis (HAL). Insulin dysregulation (ID) is the hallmark feature of EMS and a risk factor for development of HAL. There are several diagnostic tests that can be used to diagnose various forms of ID in horses and ponies. Treatment of EMS/ID includes providing an appropriate diet, exercise program, and pharmacologic intervention in some severe cases.
Modified technique for resection of the alar folds to nasal paralysis in a mule: Case report. Equids are obligate nasal breathers. Therefore, conditions that obstruct or impair this respiratory route can compromise animal welfare by causing severe respiratory distress, while also impacting athletic potential. Nasal paralysis results from injury to the facial nerve and its branches and is characterized by the lack of movement of the alar cartilage, leading to nasal collapse. Its occurrence is uncommon in horses and has not been previously reported in mules. This report describes a 9-month-old mule presented with a history of facial trauma and compression caused by a halter. After unsucc...
Diagnostic Accuracy of Scintigraphy for Detecting Morphological Variation of the Sixth Cervical Vertebral Ventral Lamina in Horses: A Retrospective Study. Morphological variations or transposition of the ventral lamina of the sixth cervical vertebra (C6) are well documented in horses. Radiography remains the primary modality for identifying these osseous variations, whereas scintigraphy provides a functional assessment of bone activity; however, its diagnostic accuracy for this condition has not been established. This retrospective single-center study evaluated the diagnostic performance of scintigraphy compared with radiography for detecting C6/C7 ventral laminar anomalies and determined an optimal C6:C7 uptake ratio cutoff. Thirty-four horses ...
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Axis Dysfunction in Critically Ill Foals and Horses. Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency is a transient dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to inadequate cortisol responses during severe stress from endotoxemia and sepsis in horses and foals. This condition is associated with poor outcomes, and its diagnosis is complicated by interindividual variability in cortisol response. Recent advances in dynamic testing and point-of-care hormone tests offer promise for better assessment and treatment, enabling more precise steroid replacement therapy in affected equine patients.
Five Domains, Multiple Realities: A Multidimensional Analysis of Equine Welfare in Equestrian Events in Brazil. Welfare assessments at traditional equestrian events in Brazil are scarce. This study aimed to systematize and stratify assessments based on the Five Domains (5DMs) model into subdomains (sDMs) for vaquejada and gait events and to adapt them to reflect local conditions and resource availability. Subsequently, the sDMs were classified and scored on a 5-level scale (1 to 5, where 1 = very poor and 5 = excellent), and assessments were conducted at three vaquejada and five gaited horse competitions. Assessments took place during morning, afternoon, and evening periods over two or more days and wer...
Endocrine Disorders and Their Effect on Equine Reproduction. Continuing the reproductive potential of aged horses is a request many equine practitioners may receive. Reproductive performance may be impacted by a host of age-related comorbidities such as the endocrinopathies, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, and equine metabolic syndrome. While limited information is known, reproductive effects described may include irregular estrous cycles, development of anovulatory follicles, increased incidence of uterine infection, or generalized infertility. Accurate diagnosis, management strategies, and monitoring remain critical for improving quality of lif...
Correction: Sleep architecture and lying behavior in horses across age groups and two housing systems: an overnight non-invasive EEG study. [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1898580.].
Effects of sympathomimetic agents on heart rate variability during general anesthesia in Thoroughbred horses. Heart rate variability (HRV) is widely used as a noninvasive index of autonomic nervous system activity. The objective of this study was to determine whether the administration of sympathomimetic agents alters HRV indices during general anesthesia in Thoroughbred horses. Five healthy Thoroughbred horses were anesthetized with sevoflurane in oxygen. During 2-5 hr of general anesthesia, five treatments were administered to each horse in a randomized order. Two doses (µg·kg·min) of epinephrine (0.1 and 0.5), norepinephrine (0.5 and 1), dobutamine (1 and 5), dopamine (5 and 15), and saline (as ...
Use of a caudal intercostal block in horses undergoing surgery for colic. In humans and companion animals, regional anaesthesia is used in multimodal analgesic protocols for abdominal wall surgery. Benefits include earlier patient mobilisation and improved pain scores. Regional anaesthetic techniques for horses undergoing abdominal surgery could provide similar benefits and warrant investigation. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a caudal intercostal block for abdominal surgery (CIBAS) in horses undergoing surgery for colic. Methods: Blinded, randomised clinical trial. Methods: Horses (n = 22) undergoing exploratory celiotomy for colic were rando...
Historical, clinical and nasal endoscopic findings in 1600 cases of equine sinonasal disease and associations with case outcome. No large study has described the signalment, pre-referral management or clinical and nasal endoscopic findings in equine sinonasal disease. Objective: To explore associations between case outcome and signalment, pre-referral treatments, clinical and nasal endoscopic variables in sinonasal disease. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Data were collected from medical records of 19 equine hospitals on sinonasal disease cases they had examined and which had undergone computed tomographic (CT) imaging. Case outcome was obtained from clinical records and/or by contacting clients and referri...
Context-aware machine learning for lameness side and severity prediction in trotting horses: A proof-of-concept study. In clinical practice, lameness evaluation often relies on visual assessment under different examination conditions, including ground and figures, and remains subjective. Although objective symmetry indices provide quantitative measures of gait asymmetry, their interpretation across multiple conditions remains challenging because several complementary indices are required and their thresholds vary with context. Objective: To assess the ability of a context-aware machine learning approach to predict lameness side and severity at the trot using trunk-mounted IMUs. Methods: Retrospective observati...
Oocyte and Embryo Vitrification in Horses. Vitrification has emerged as a decisive technique in assisted reproductive technology, offering superior cryopreservation outcomes for both oocytes and embryos compared with traditional slow freezing. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the vitrification of equine oocytes and embryos, emphasizing the influence of technical factors, including cryoprotectant selection, exposure time, temperature control, and device volume, on vitrification outcomes. Biological factors such as the oocyte maturation stage, the presence of cumulus cells, and embryo size are also explored, highlighting...
