Veterinary practice in relation to horses encompasses the medical care, management, and treatment of equine species. This field involves various aspects of equine health, including preventive care, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, surgical interventions, and emergency care. Equine veterinarians employ a range of diagnostic tools and techniques such as physical examinations, imaging, and laboratory tests to assess and monitor horse health. In addition to addressing physical ailments, veterinary practice also includes nutritional management, reproductive health, and performance-related issues. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, advancements, and outcomes in veterinary practices specific to equine health.
Park RD.Radiographic examinations of the equine head can be performed with portable x-ray machines. The views comprising the examination depend on the area of the head being examined. With a knowledge of radiographic anatomy and radiographic signs of disease, valuable diagnostic information can be obtained from the radiographic examination. In addition, the radiographic information can also be used to develop a prognosis and determine the most appropriate therapy.
Howard RD, Stashak TS.Traumatic injuries to the head region of the horse are a common presenting complaint. Because of a copious blood supply, these wounds typically exhibit a tremendous capability for healing. By following the basic principles of wound management and employing a few techniques unique for specific injuries, the healing of these wounds can result in a satisfactory outcome.
Sager M.The aim of this article is to emphasize the need for analgesic medication in animals in possibly painful situations, especially in the postoperative period. The two large groups of compounds used as analgesics--the opiates and the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)--are described with special reference to their pharmacokinetics, side-effects and toxicity, their mechanism of action, their indications and contraindications. Recommended doses of the different drugs available are given for the dog, the cat, the horse, the swine and the small and large ruminants.
MacDonald MH.Examination of the equine head should be a routine part of any complete physical examination. It can be performed rapidly and efficiently while providing important information about the health and function of several major body systems.
Cohen ND.Neurologic evaluation should be performed in horses with diseases of the head. Although neurologic examination should focus on assessing behavior, mental status, and cranial nerve evaluation, evaluation of neurologic function of other body regions should be performed. Neurologic evaluation of the head can be performed expediently by practitioners to provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information. The numerous causes of dysphagia can be classified as obstructive, painful, or neurogenic. Common causes of neurogenic dysphagia are summarized, and methods for initial diagnosis and management ...
Schneider RK, Bramlage LR, Hardy J.The distal interphalangeal joint was successfully arthrodesed in two horses using three parallel 5.5-mm cortical screws and an autogenous cancellous bone graft. The screws were directed from the palmar proximal border of the second phalanx dorso-distally across the joint space and into the third phalanx. The technique was first developed on a normal horse. The second horse, a clinical case, ruptured its deep digital flexor tendon with complete luxation of the distal interphalangeal joint. Bony fusion of the distal interphalangeal joint occurred in both horses, but both also had residual lamene...
Hay WP, Tulleners E.Granulation tissue masses arising from the axial surface of the arytenoid cartilage in 25 horses were excised using a contact neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser. A technique that eliminated the need for general anesthesia or laryngotomy was developed for transen-doscopic removal of the masses in standing horses. Nineteen racehorses made abnormal upper respiratory tract noises or their performance was decreased, whereas six horses not used for racing had a history of stertor (five horses) or epistaxis after nasogastric intubation (one horse). Thoroughbreds were significantly (p = .0126) ov...
Carli S, Sonzogni O, Villa R, Bignazzi R, Montesissa C.The pharmacokinetic profile of a sulphamonomethoxine-trimethoprim (SMM-TMP) combination was investigated in five horses. The combination was administered intravenously, intramuscularly and orally at a constant dose of 20 mg SMM plus 4 mg TMP kg-1 bodyweight. Following intravenous administration both drugs dispersed rapidly with distribution half-lives of about 12 minutes for SMM and about 18 minutes for TMP. Elimination half-lives for intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration were closely similar, indicating that elimination was independent of administration route. Bioavailability of ...
Montavon S.Few scientists predicted the impact that echography would have on the equine breeding industry. The aim of this practical review is to give the practitioner the ability to be familiar with the ovarian echographic exam. He should be able to recognize different stages of estrous cycle in the mare, status of preovulatory follicles and to predict precisely the time of ovulation. Various specific criteria and details regarding the equine echography are studied and illustrated, using the last scientific data published after the Fifth International Symposium on Equine Reproduction in Deauville.
Braun JP, Carstensen CA.Potassium concentrations were measured in the plasma of 336 animals with a new reagent carrier (Reflotron; Boehringer Mannheim) K+ and with an ion-specific electrode system: results were highly correlated (r = 0.991; y = 0.993 x + 0.02) and day-to-day coefficient of variation of the new reagent measurements was lower than 2.5 per cent. This system offers a good alternative to the ion-selective electrode system for plasma potassium measurement in veterinary practice.
Valberg S, Jönsson L, Lindholm A, Holmgren N.Six horses with a history of recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) (Horses A-F) and 7 control horses performed a submaximal and later a near-maximal treadmill exercise test. Blood samples were obtained before, during and after exercise and muscle biopsies were taken before and after exercise. At rest, plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in horses with RER were above 95% confidence intervals for control horses. During submaximal exercise, 3 horses with RER (A, B and C) had much greater increases in plasma AST, creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin concentrations than did Horses ...
Panzer RB.The traditional Chinese (TC) and transpositional (TP) methods of animal acupoint location result in different acupoint charts. Representative TC and TP equine zangfu organ shu-association acupoint charts are compared to each other and to a human chart. Despite their differences, practitioners of both methods appear to achieve equally effective therapeutic results--a phenomenon termed "traditional Chinese/transpositional equal efficacy" (TTEE). Common veterinary acupuncture practices, traditional Chinese medical theory, spinal cord anatomy, and a preliminary equine "association segment" chart a...
Anderson F.With the approach of the menopause and the cessation of ovarian estrogen production, a number of uncomfortable and/or dangerous conditions may be manifested, and are all indications for estrogen replacement therapy. Various routes of estrogen administration are available--oral, subcutaneous implant, intravaginal, and transdermal--each having advantages and disadvantages. There is also a choice possible among replacement hormones, which include the natural estrogens, such as estradiol and estropipate; synthetic estrogens, for example, ethinyl estradiol and diethylstilbestrol; and conjugated equ...
Stitz L, Bilzer T, Richt JA, Rott R.Borna disease represents a unique model of a virus-induced immunological disease of the brain. Naturally occurring in horses and sheep, the mechanisms of pathogenesis have been studied in experimental animals, namely in the rat. Many investigations have revealed that the infection of the natural hosts principally follows the same pathogenic pathways as observed in rats, leading to a severe encephalomyelitis. This affliction of the central nervous system results in severe neurological disorders that again, are fully comparable in laboratory animals to those in the natural and the different expe...
Millichamp NJ.Horses with ocular trauma frequently present as emergency cases. This article provides a succinct review of various adnexal and globe injury issues. Accurate case assessment, management, prognosis, and follow-up considerations are presented.
Roberts SM.Vision is a marvelous sense, critical to the well-being and functional use of horses. Anatomic, optical, and visual acuity generalities are presented. The constituents of unsoundness due to equine ocular disease are discussed, and recommendations are made.
Dugan SJ.Except for two neoplasms, notably SCC and sarcoid, ocular and periocular tumors are uncommon in horses. The practitioner must accurately determine the type of tumor by histopathology so appropriate treatment and a legitimate prognosis can be offered. The first attempt at treatment has the greatest chance to result in a cure; an aggressive treatment regimen therefore should be selected from the start.
McLaughlin SA, Whitley RD, Gilger BC.The lens represents a unique tissue in light of its embryologic development, retention of old cells and nuclear make-up, transparent nature, immune privileged status, and metabolic restrictions. Disorders of malformation and malposition occur, but cataract development is the most common and significant problem for owners and animals. Technologic and pharmacologic advances have allowed surgical removal of equine cataracts to become an acceptable alternative, capable of returning a visually impaired horse to a functional status. Uveal inflammation represents the greatest threat to successful sur...
Hamor RE, Roberts SM, Severin GA, Trawnik WR, Johnson WJ.Specific details on surgical procedures, although not covered here, are available in other references. Factors enhancing the overall cosmetic appearance obtained with procedures are emphasized, providing information that should allow veterinarians to offer clients a good cosmetic appearance and effective treatment for disfiguring ocular problems in their horses. Questions regarding procedures should be addressed to your referral ophthalmologist or, in the case of a corneoscleral prosthesis, the ocularist assisting.
Cooley PL.When compared with small domestic animals, the horse has unique ocular characteristics (complete bony orbit, well-developed eyelid muscles, a nasal and temporal gray limbal line, granulae iridica, paurangiotic fundus). Knowledge of normal equine ocular anatomy is essential for ocular lesion interpretation. It is important to obtain a full history and general examination before sedation, nerve blocks, or other diagnostic ophthalmic tests are performed. All ocular examinations should include a systematic evaluation of both the anterior and posterior segments. Selection of other diagnostic tests ...
Miller TR.Topical administration of drugs is the treatment of choice for diseases of the anterior segment. Drug levels attained by this means are usually of short duration, however, necessitating frequent therapy or continuous perfusion if prolonged drug levels are required. A drug-delivery device (collagen shield or contact lens) or subconjunctival injections can be used to augment topical therapy if frequent treatment is not possible. Subconjunctival injections are recommended for drugs that have low solubility and, hence, low corneal penetration. Retrobulbar injections are seldom indicated, except fo...
Maddison JE.Fifty-nine reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were received by the Adverse Drug Reaction Subcommittee of the Australian Veterinary Association from February 1991-March 1992 inclusive. The number of reports received/number of animals involved per species was: dogs (23/24); cats (20/30); horses (4/4); cattle (7/10); sheep (3/745); poultry (1/580); pigs (1/8). Of these, 38 (64%) were classified as definite ADRs and 9 (15%) as probable ADRs. In 10 (17%) reports an ADR could not be substantiated or there was insufficient information available to make a decision. Two reports involved...
Eberhardt C, Gerhards H.The three tests (EQUI Z-Test, AGLUTINADE FOAL IMMUNITY, CITE Foal IgG-Test) were evaluated for their accuracy and usefulness in the field. Single radial immunodiffusion was used as reference method. All tests were easily and rapid to perform and results were obtained within a few minutes. It was easy to get the results of the CITE Foal IgG-Test, but use of the EQUI Z-Test and the FOAL AGLUTINADE IMMUNITY-Test needed some practice to get correct results. Results obtained by the CITE Foal IgG-Test correlated to single radial immunodiffusion in 94%, those obtained by FOAL AGLUTINADE IMMUNITY-Test...
Schneider RK, Bramlage LR, Mecklenburg LM, Moore RM, Gabel AA.Open drainage was used to treat 26 horses with persistent or severe septic arthritis/tenosynovitis. Infected synovial structures were drained through a small (3 cm) arthrotomy incision that was left open and protected by a sterile bandage. Joint lavage was performed in all 26 horses. In addition to systemic antibiotics, 23 of these horses were also treated with intra-articular antibiotics; amikacin (17 horses), gentamycin (2 horses), cefazolin (2 horses), and 2 horses were injected at different times with gentamycin and amikacin. The infection was eliminated from the involved synovial structur...
Habel RE, Budras KD.Analyses of the fibers in the prepubic tendon of the horse and ruminants have shown that it is composed of the crossed and uncrossed tendons of origin of the pectineus muscles, the pelvic tendons of the rectus and obliquus abdominis muscles, and the tendons of origin of the cranial parts of the gracilis muscles. Pelvic attachments of the linea alba and the yellow abdominal tunic are incorporated in it. It is not a transverse ligament, and it is not homologous to the human superior (cranial) pubic ligament. The dog differs in 4 respects: (1) the pectineus tendons do not cross, but each originat...
Sardari K, Kazemi H.To evaluation of clinical examination for differential diagnosis of navicular region pain from other forms of palmar heel pain in the forelimb in horses the present study was undertaken. Thirty four horses with lameness referable to the palmar aspect of the hoof based on their response to the palmar digital nerves analgesia were divided into 2 groups based on their response to both distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa analgesia. Horses that were profoundly improved by both analgesic blocks (distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa) were considered to have navicular region p...
Mata F.Several growth models are commonly used in the biological sciences, to model the follicle growth occurring in the estrous cycle. The aim of this project was to find the model that best fit the follicular size growth data for Lusitano mares. Retrospective data collected from reproduction book records of n=84 mares and n=124 cycles was used to find the series to be fitted to the models. The exponential, Gompertz, logistic, von Bertalanffy, Richards and Weibull models were used, and the most parsimonious and best fit was achieved with the logistic model (r(2)=0.999). The logistic model fits the L...
Meek DG, Dickinson EO.An illustrated approach to the medial aspect of the equine fetlock joint is described, whereby the collateral ligaments are transected. This approach is suggested as a possible technique for metatarsal or metacarpal bone fracture repair by retrograde pinning, arthrodesis of the fetlock joint and other joint and sesamoid bone surgery. The histological evidence of satisfactory healing is presented and the advantages and disadvantages are discussed.
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.
Andrews FM.Early aggressive medical therapy in horses with acute rhabdomyolysis is essential to prevent further muscle damage and secondary complications, such as laminitis and acute renal failure. A variety of pharmacologic agents may be helpful in the treatment of this condition but may have adverse affects if hydration status is not corrected first or concurrently with oral or intravenous fluids. Early aggressive therapy will help prevent irreversible muscle damage that could lead to poor performance in the future.