Topic:Veterinary Practice
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.
Surgical approach to the equine brachial plexus. Eleven ponies were used to perfect a surgical approach to the brachial plexus that would offer maximal exposure to the plexus, with minimal trauma. One pony was euthanatized to determine whether surgical exposure to the plexus was feasible. By approaching the plexus from the prescapular region, the only muscle that was found necessary to incise was the cutaneus omobrachialis. The rest of the procedure required only blunt dissection. In the other 10 ponies, the wounds healed by first intention, and the gait was not affected by the surgery.
Some problems associated with intestinal surgery in the horse. The paper considers the general principles of intestinal surgery in the horse and illustrates a theatre layout suitable for this purpose. The problems of locating and reducing obstructions of the small and large intestine are discussed, with particular emphasis on incarcerations of the small bowel and the techniques of jejunal and ileal re-implantation after bowel resection.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a review. New applications in hypersensitivity reactions of cattle and horses. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit the biosynthesis of kinins and prostaglandins and stabilize leukocyte lysosomal membranes. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also weakly block the biosynthesis of histamine and serotonin, and pharmacologically antagonize kinins, prostaglandins and slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs effectively control both cardiovascular and respiratory manifestations of hypersensitivity in cattle and horses. This, coupled with the contrasting lack of effectiveness of "antiamine" drugs, suggests that bio-amines such as hi...
Phenylbutazone and the horse–a review. The clinical uses and side-effects of phenylbutazone in man, horses, and other animals are reviewed. The blood dyscrasias commonly described in man have not been reported in the horse, although several of the more minor side-effects have occasionally been seen (e.g. water retention, depression, transient staggering and phlebitis). Despite the lack of documented evidence, the toxicity of phenylbutazone in the horse is considered to be lower than that in man. This may be associated with the lower dose rates normally used, the more rapid plasma clearance rate and the comparatively younger age of ...
A post mortem study of equine digital flexor tendons. The results of a survey are presented in which 589 limbs from 206 horses were dissected. In174 of the limbs lesions were found in either the superficial (131) or deep (43) digital flexor tendons. Changes occurring with age were also recorded. The sites of the abnormalities and their macroscopical appearance are described and the value of the results is considered in relation to the diagnosis and the treatment of clinical lesions.
A method for indirect measurement of arterial blood pressure in the horse. A method using the Doppler ultrasound principle for indirect determination of arterial blood pressure in the horse is described. The method is simple and suitable for field situations. Validation studies show that systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements bear a close relationship to true values obtained by direct measurement.
Acupuncture: clinical trials in the horse. A discussion of the merits of acupuncture therapy and a review of experiments that support the neurogenic mediation of acupuncture are presented. Case reports are included as examples of the therapeutic value of acupuncture in treatment of intestinal and musculoskeletal disorders in the horse. Statistical importance cannot be credited to the clinical experiences reported here because of the small number of cases. Hopefully, the clinical success reported will encourage continued investigation of the clinical efficacy and adjunctive value of acupuncture in the veterinary profession.
Navicular disease in the horse: risk factors, radiographic changes, and response to therapy. In a retrospective study, 74 horses met defined historical and clinical features indicative of navicular disease. Most of the affected horses were 4 to 9 years old. Males had a greater risk of navicular disease than females, geldings had a greater risk than stallions, and Quarter Horses had a greater risk than other breeds. Diagnostic radiographic changes were found in 42 of 70 horses examined. The distribution of diagnostic radiographic changes between the right and left fron feet was equal. There was no correlation between the finding of diagnostic radiographic changes and the horse's respon...
Fetal electrocardiography in the mare as a practical aid to diagnosing singleton and twin pregnancy. Fetal electrocardiography (FECG) in the mare has been investigated by several workers (Holmes and Darke 1968, Kanagawa and others 1967). This short paper seeks to evaluate previous work, present new findings, and provide a practical technique enabling veterinary surgeons to diagnose singleton and twin pregnancies in the latter part of pregnancy.
An experimental approach to surgery of the equine fetlock and its associated structures. 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.
A method of ether anaesthesia in ponies. A method of inhalation anaesthesia using diethyl ether, following induction with thiopentone, is described in ponies. The high concentrations of ether needed to maintain anaesthesia were obtained by using a Marrett head in circle vaporizer. This methods would only be used in ponies, since the diameter of the tubing is too small for use on larger horses.
Veterinary aspects of doping. Doping can improve or impair performance and can be done either deliberately or accidentally. Accidental doping to win is the offence which most concerns the veterinary surgeon. The distinction between legitimate therapy and assisting an unfit horse to win a race by giving it a drug is a fine one. General guidelines are presented for the veterinary surgeon in practice.