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.
Hughes KJ, Rendle DI, Higgins S, Barron R, Cowling A, Love S, Durham AE.Delays between collection and laboratory analysis of equine body fluid samples are common in practice; however, the effects of delays on the accuracy of results and diagnostic interpretation are unknown. Objective: To assess the effects of storage time and temperature combination on protein and cell parameters of equine synovial and mesothelial cavity fluids and determine whether any changes affect clinicopathological interpretation. Methods: In vitro experiment. Methods: Body fluid samples obtained from horses during diagnostic investigation were divided into 7 aliquots and total protein conc...
Kane-Smyth J, Taylor SE, García EC, Reardon RJ.To evaluate the frequency of inadvertent penetration of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) and/or distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) when using a direct endoscopic approach to the navicular bursa, and to evaluate an alternate direct approach to the navicular bursa. Methods: Cadaveric study. Methods: Equine cadaver limbs (n = 40 for direct; n = 12 for alternate approach). Methods: Four surgeons performed the direct endoscopic approach to the navicular bursa on 10 limbs each. Frequencies of inadvertent synovial penetration and iatrogenic damage were compared between surgeons. Use of an alt...
Kutter AP, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Schwarzwald CC, Portier KG, Ringer SK.To evaluate the non-calibrated, minimally invasive cardiac output (CO) monitor FloTrac/Vigileo (FloTrac) against thermodilution (TD) CO in standing horses. Methods: Prospective, experimental trial. Methods: Nine adult horses weighing a median (range) of 535 (470-602) kg. Methods: Catheters were placed in the right atrium, pulmonary artery and carotid artery under local anaesthesia. CO was measured 147 times by TD and FloTrac and indexed to body weight. Changes in CO were achieved with romifidine or xylazine and dobutamine constant rate infusions. Bland-Altman analysis, concordance and polar pl...
Wijnberg ID, Ververs FF.Five adult horses with ventricular extra systoles (VES) and 2 with ventricular tachycardia (VT) refractory to treatment with rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, lidocaine, or procainamide were treated with phenytoin sodium p.o. q12h. The starting dosage of phenytoin was 20 or 22 mg/kg body weight (BW) q12h, and the maintenance dosage varied from 8 to 17 mg/kg BW q12h. The mean +/- standard deviation therapeutic blood concentration of total phenytoin was 8.8 +/- 2.1 mg/L, and the mean concentration of free phenytoin of 2.5 +/- 0.5 mg/L was relatively constant at a range of 24 to 29% of the total phe...
Jackson RK.The structural differences in the spine of the horse and man are compared. These, together with the different uses to which the spine is put, explain the different patterns of disease. Impingement of the spinous processes is discussed in detail including surgical treatment. Comments are also made on sacroiliac strain and manipulation of the spine.
Sullins KE, Stashak TS.Six normal adult horses had large colon resections at the sternal and diaphragmatic flexures. Stainless steel staples were used to close the stumps of the dorsal and ventral colons in all six. Intestinal continuity was restored with a side-to-side anastomosis of the dorsal and ventral colons. Three of these anastomoses were performed with staples, and three with a double inverting suture pattern. After one month, the horses were surgically reevaluated, and the anastomotic sites were examined. There was no significant difference between the stoma sizes in the two groups. No complications were o...
O'Brien T, Hunt RJ.In all surgeries with the patient standing under chemical and physical restraint, patient compliance is of the utmost importance. All fractures of the third metacarpal or metatarsal condyles and sagittal fracture of the first phalanx are not amenable to internal fixation with the horse standing, and young unhandled horses may not have a suitable disposition for standing surgical treatment of septic pedal osteitis, or implantation and removal of transphyseal screws. Previous operator experience in performing the procedure or technique under general anesthesia is beneficial. Appreciation of appr...
Pathania VP, Sharma AK, Joshi GR, John JT.India accounts for approximately 10 million orthopaedically handicapped children and adults with limb deformity. Ilizarov ring fixator could treat most of these deformities. Methods: Twenty cases of deformities of lower limb managed with Ilizarov technique during period between March 2001 and February 2003 were studied. Results: 55% were in the age group of 11-30 years. Out of the 20 cases studied, 6 were congenital talipes equino varus, 8 were fixed flexion deformity of knee, 4 were equines deformity of the ankle and 2 were malunited fracture shaft of tibia.4 patients who had recurrence were ...
Cramp P, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, de Feijter-Rupp H, Elvin NG, Hauptman J, Robinson NE.The nerve-muscle pedicle graft technique is a treatment for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN), but the optimal placement of the pedicles within the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis (CAD) muscle is unknown. Objective: The magnitude and direction of force placed on the muscular process of the left arytenoid cartilage affects the magnitude of laryngeal abduction. Methods: Five larynges were harvested from cadavers. Using increments of 0.98 N, a dead-weight force generator applied a force of 0-14.7 N for 1 min each to the left muscular process at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 degrees angles. The r...
Radcliffe RM, Hill JA, Liu SY, Cook VL, Hurcombe SDA, Divers TJ.Abdominocentesis is commonly used to evaluate the abdominal cavity of the horse. This technique provides valuable diagnostic information as well as the means to monitor patients with abdominal diseases being managed medically and to determine their need for surgical management. Complications are uncommon and include trauma to the gastrointestinal tract or spleen, septic peritonitis, or abdominal wall infection. Methods: This review describes the indications, utility, patient preparation, and instructions for performing abdominocentesis as well as possible complications reported in horses. Step...
Hall NP, Heaton KT, Farnsworth KD, Ragle CA.This report evaluates the use of 4.5- and 5.5-mm cannulated drill bits for articular cartilage removal from the proximal interphalangeal joints of equine cadaver limbs. Limbs from 8 equine cadavers, all with normal proximal interphalangeal joints. Proximal interphalangeal joints of 32 limbs from 8 equine cadavers were drilled using either 4.5- or 5.5-mm cannulated drill bits. Pastern joints were then disarticulated, and intra-articular drilling was evaluated by visual inspection. Post-drilling evaluation revealed complete intra-articular drilling occurred in all 32 joints. Canulated 4.5- and 5...
Dunlop CI.Physiologic similarities and differences between foals and adult horses, including response to pain, cardiopulmonary function, ability to compensate for dehydration and hemorrhage, and response to anesthetic drugs, are considered in this article. Preanesthetic evaluation, choice of anesthetic drugs, technique, and monitoring support requirements through to anesthetic recovery are based on these physiologic considerations. Anesthetic techniques discussed include drugs for premedication, parenteral or inhalational anesthetic induction, and maintenance using inhalational and parenteral anesthesia...
Torres BT, Dover RK, Sapora JA, Sandberg GS, Budsberg SC.To document the publication rate of abstracts presented at 10 ACVS conferences and report the time required for publication and level of evidence. Methods: Literature review. Methods: All scientific abstracts published in the ACVS proceedings from 2001 to 2010 were reviewed. The level of evidence of each abstract was evaluated and scored (1-4). Publication information was determined after a broad bibliographic search through multiple online databases. Results: The overall publication rate for ACVS abstracts (n=1,395) was 66% and 11% were published before conference presentation. The majority o...
Ludewig E, Rowan C, Schieder K, Frank B.The aim of this review is to describe the steps of constructing exposure tables for use of digital detector systems (DRx) in equine practice. Introductory, selected underlying technical aspects of digital radiography are illustrated. Unlike screen-film radiography (SFR), DRx have a uniform signal response of the detector over a large dose range. This enables generation of diagnostic images from exposures that were previously nondiagnostic on SFR, thus reducing retakes. However, with decreasing detector entrance dose, image noise increasingly hampers the image quality. Conversely, unlike the bl...
Zetterström SM, Boone LH, Weatherall KM, Caldwell FJ.To describe a minimally invasive technique for semitendinosus tenotomy with ultrasonographic guidance and to evaluate procedural complications. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Cadaveric equine hind limbs (n = 16). Methods: A stab incision was performed distocaudal to the tibial insertion of the semitendinosus muscle with ultrasonographic assistance. After transection of the tendon with an arthroscopic retrograde knife, the tendon edges palpably retracted, and complete transection was confirmed by ultrasound. Limbs were dissected to confirm the degree of tendon transection and to identify...
Willink DL, Smeenk LA, van Oyen PW, de Kruif A.Data from the literature and own data for 67 twin pregnancies were used to establish the factors essential to the decision on how to treat twins at different gestational ages. Spontaneous (natural) reduction was compared with manual embryo reduction. Manual embryo reduction is always indicated when a twin is diagnosed before day 16 after ovulation. Thereafter, the type of fixation is the main determinant. Manual embryo reduction is always first choice for bilateral and unilateral non adjacent embryos and must be applied as early as possible. The change of natural reduction up to day 30, is hig...
Prutton AM, Lenaghan HAH, Baillie S.Simulation in veterinary education is an important means of providing a safe, welfare-friendly way for students to hone their skills prior to performing procedures on live animals. Students may not get many chances to practice passing a nasogastric tube and checking for reflux in live horses during clinical rotations and extra-mural studies. A low-cost equine nasogastric intubation model was created at the University of Surrey, allowing students to practice passing a tube and checking for reflux. Thirty-two equine veterinarians evaluated the model for realism, and its potential usefulness in t...
Tobin T, Blake JW, Tai CY, Arnett S.Rapid intravenous injection of 1 g of procaine hydrochloride in Thoroughbred mares produced variable signs of central nervous system excitation for as long as 4 minutes. Plasma concentrations of procaine were similarly variable and transient, decreasing with a half-life of approximately 25 minutes. In vitro, plasma from freshly collected equine blood hydrolyzed procaine with a half-life of approximately 7.5 minutes. This hydrolysis was apparently due to plasma esterases. Penicillin, when added free or complexed as procaine-penicillin, did not protect procaine against hydrolysis by these plasma...
Suarez-Fuentes DG, Tatarniuk DM, Caston SS, Kersh KD, Gillen AM, Hays AM.To compare outcomes after semitendinosus tenotomy performed under standing sedation versus general anesthesia. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 20 horses with fibrotic myopathy of the semitendinosus muscle. Methods: Medical records (2002-2015) of horses undergoing tenotomy of the semitendinosus muscle for the treatment of fibrotic myopathy were reviewed. Signalment, history, affected muscles, restrain method, surgical procedures, and short-term outcome as well as complications were retrieved from records. Long-term outcome (gait and athletic function) was assessed at least 6 months...
Doerffel A, Reinert A, Böttcher D, Winter K, Brehm W, Gittel C.Complications associated with indwelling intravenous catheters vary from minor to severe. Changes in tissue architecture and vein structure may be detectable prior to clinical alterations. The aim of the study was to characterize and compare changes in a catheterized vein and surrounding tissue by clinical and ultrasonographic examination. Microbiological infestation of catheter specimens was assessed. Methods: In this prospective, observational, clinical study 55 horses with an indwelling intravenous catheter have been included. Subsequent to catheter placement, vein and surrounding tissue we...
Swor TM, Watkins JP, Bahr A, Honnas CM.Previous olecranon fracture reports contain a small proportion of type 1b fractures, with only a few repaired by tension band plate fixation. Objective: To evaluate subject details, history, clinical findings and outcome of type 1b olecranon fractures in a large group of horses treated by tension band plate fixation. Methods: Medical records of 77 horses diagnosed with an olecranon fracture were reviewed. Twenty-four horses (31%) were classified as having type 1b olecranon fractures. Clinical details and follow-up results (4-128 months post operatively) were recorded. Results: Treatment includ...
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...
Weigand K, Gerhards H, Köstlin R.The transmission of the laser beam trough flexible fibers enables an endoscopic application. Since this technique is minimal invasive and often does not require general anaesthesia there is an increasing interest in the use of laser techniques-for example in equine upper respiratory tract surgery. This paper gives a review about reported laser application in the different fields of veterinary surgery with emphasis on laser practice in dermatology, ophthalmology and endoscopic laser application.
Dyson S.Methods of investigating horses with suspected shoulder lameness are described and discussed. The gait of shoulder lameness is characterised and compared with that of lower forelimb lameness. If lameness is slight, differentiation may be difficult, but if moderate, upper forelimb lameness usually results in shortening of the cranial phase of the stride and a low limb flight. Clinically, it may not be possible to differentiate between shoulder and elbow lameness without intra-articular anaesthesia. Practical aspects of intra-articular anaesthesia of the shoulder joint are reviewed. Synovial flu...
Divers TJ, Radcliffe RM, Cook VL, Bookbinder LC, Hurcombe SDA.Blood products, crystalloids, and colloid fluids are used in the medical treatment of severe hemorrhage in horses with a goal of providing sufficient blood flow and oxygen delivery to vital organs. The fluid treatments for hemorrhage will vary depending upon severity and duration and whether hemorrhage is controlled or uncontrolled. Methods: With acute and severe controlled hemorrhage, treatment is focused on rapidly increasing perfusion pressure and blood flow to vital organs. This can most easily be accomplished in field cases by the administration of hypertonic saline. If isotonic crystallo...
Curtis S, Ferguson DW, Luikart R, Ovnicek G.Several of the technical approaches applied to the foot overlap with regard to intent. Frog or solar support, for example, may be provided either to stabilize the distal phalanx within the hoof capsule or in an effort to unload regional pain arising from the solar surface of the foot. It is likewise obvious that some techniques such as lowering the heels to achieve phalangeal realignment and raising the heels to relieve deep digital flexor tendon tension are contradictory. In these instances, it is not that one technique is always correct but that differences exist among horses. Currently, it ...
Doyle AJ, Freeman DE.To describe a surgical technique for, and report outcome after, extensive nasal septum resection in horses with congenital or acquired septal diseases. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Horses (5) with nasal septal deformity. Methods: Under general anesthesia, obstetrical wires were preplaced around the ventral, caudal, and dorsal aspects of the nasal septum by combinations of manual guidance (ventral and caudal wires) and use of a trephine hole on the dorsal mid-line (dorsal and caudal wires). The rostral part of the septum was incised with a scalpel and the ventral, dorsal, and caudal s...
Hertzsch R.Veterinarians play an essential role in the prevention of doping in equine sports, both as attending clinicians as well as official competition veterinarians. This complex task requires comprehensive knowledge concerning the pertinent regulations. These include official laws, such as the animal protection and medicines laws as as well as rules issued by the responsible equine sports authority. Furthermore, veterinarians are required to determine adequate withdrawal times following the legitimate use of medications in sport horses. This may be performed by applying appropriate data published by...
Canisso IF, Ellerbrock RE, Wilkins PA.An 18-hour-old colt was presented for abdominal discomfort, preputial swelling, and frequent posturing to urinate. Examination of the scrotum confirmed 2 testes and no scrotal or inguinal hernia. Transabdominal ultrasound identified a distended bladder and no free fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Inspection of the preputial cavity revealed that the internal lamina of the prepuce was mostly attached to the glans penis. The preputial cavity was lubricated and manual traction was applied to detach the internal lamina of the prepuce from the glans penis. The colt urinated spontaneously 1 hour after...
Tranquilli WJ, Thurmon JC.Several unique pharmacologic and physiologic factors must be considered when attempting to anesthetize premature or neonatal foals. Juvenile foals are similar to adults in their physiology and metabolism. Anesthetic drug and protocol selection should reflect the differences between these two age groups. Neonates are best anesthetized using an inhalation technique, whereas older foals can be safely anesthetized with either parenteral or inhalation anesthetic agents. Careful monitoring is absolutely essential when anesthetizing foals. The clinician should plan to routinely administer fluids and ...
