Veterinary procedures in horses encompass a range of medical and surgical interventions performed to diagnose, treat, and manage equine health conditions. These procedures are designed to address various health issues, from routine care to emergency interventions. Common veterinary procedures include vaccinations, dental care, lameness evaluations, reproductive services, and surgical interventions such as colic surgery or fracture repair. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, outcomes, and advancements in veterinary procedures for horses, providing insights into their application and efficacy in equine medicine.
Hassel DM.Thoracic trauma represents an important cause of morbidity in mortality after injury in human beings and animals. After any form of suspected chest wall trauma, initial emergency management should include assurance of a patent airway and adequate ventilation, along with treatment for shock if present. As with any open wound, tetanus prophylaxis should be instituted. Types of trauma to the thoracic region of the horse include pectoral and axillary lacerations, penetrating chest wounds, flail chest, fractures of the ribs, blunt thoracic trauma, and several potential sequelae that include pneumot...
Schaer BD.The emergency clinician is frequently in the position of receiving, evaluating, and initiating treatment on horses with ophthalmic emergencies or orbital trauma. In the best of circumstances, an ophthalmologist is available to guide initial therapy and ultimately assume responsibility for the management of the patient during the remainder of its hospitalization, but this is not always the case. The information presented here is meant to provide the emergency clinician with basic guidelines for the initial assessment and management of horses sustaining ocular injuries or presented with an ophth...
Hart JC, Smith C, Mogg TD.A 12-day-old Standardbred filly foal was presented with an acute onset hindlimb lameness of 24 hours duration. Initial ultrasonographic evaluation of the right gluteal region revealed oedematous change to the muscle architecture. Conservative therapy consisting of antimicrobials and stall rest was initiated. Forty-eight hours after admission a localised gluteal pyomyositis had developed. This was drained twice by percutaneous aspiration. Four days after admission the foal was euthanased. Necropsy examination revealed a septic proximal femoral physis with no grossly apparent joint involvement.
Schwarzwald CC, Hamlin RL, Bonagura JD, Nishijima Y, Meadows C, Carnes CA.Although atrial arrhythmias are clinically important in horses, atrial electrophysiology has been incompletely studied. Objective: Standard electrophysiologic methods can be used to study drug effects in horses. Specifically, the effects of diltiazem on atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction are rate-dependent and allow control of ventricular response rate during rapid atrial pacing in horses undergoing quinidine treatment. Methods: Fourteen healthy horses. Methods: Arterial blood pressure, surface electrocardiogram, and right atrial electrogram were recorded during sinus rhythm and during pro...
Desbrosse FG, Perrin R, Launois T, Vandeweerd JM, Clegg PD.To describe endoscopic surgical subtotal resection of the dorsal spinous processes (DSP) and interspinous ligament in horses. Methods: Descriptive clinical study. Methods: Adult horses (n=10) with back pain and impinging dorsal spinous processes Methods: Diseased portions of DSP and interspinous ligament were resected by endoscopic surgery, using Destandau Endospine to create a surgical space and provide triangulation for the endoscope, suction cannula, and surgical instruments. Medical records of 10 horses with pain attributable to DSP pathology treated by endoscopic resection of DSP were rev...
Hewson CJ, Dohoo IR, Lemke KA, Barkema HW.Anecdotal evidence suggests that many veterinarians may not use analgesics in livestock for routine surgical procedures or painful disease states. To investigate this, we conducted a national mail survey of a random sample of 1431 Canadian veterinarians (response rate, 50.1%). Questions primarily concerned veterinarians' analgesic usage for common surgeries and medical conditions in beef and dairy cattle, pigs, and horses, and attitudes toward pain management. More than 90% of veterinarians used analgesic drugs for equine surgeries, for cesarean section in sows and cows, and for bovine claw am...
Hirsch JE, Galuppo LD, Graham LE, Simpson EL, Ferraro GL.To report clinical evaluation of third carpal bone (C3) frontal plane slab fracture repair with the Acutrak screw system. Methods: Prospective case series. Methods: Racing Thoroughbreds (n=17) with frontal C3 slab fractures. Methods: C3 slab fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses (1999-2004) were repaired by use of the Acutrak screw system. Data collected were (1) preoperative variables--gender, age at injury, limb involved, injury occurrence, fracture thickness, complexity, and displacement, race starts and earnings and (2) postoperative variables were: surgical complications, days to first sta...
Murphy J, Arkins S.Scientists and equestrians continually seek to achieve a clearer understanding of equine learning behaviour and its implications for training. Behavioural and learning processes in the horse are likely to influence not only equine athletic success but also the usefulness of the horse as a domesticated species. However given the status and commercial importance of the animal, equine learning behaviour has received only limited investigation. Indeed most experimental studies on equine cognitive function to date have addressed behaviour, learning and conceptualization processes at a moderately ba...
Henson FM, Lamas L, Knezevic S, Jeffcott LB.Injury to the supraspinous ligament (SSL) is reported to cause back pain in the horse. The diagnosis is based on clinical examination and confirmed by ultrasonographic examination. The ultrasonographic appearance of the supraspinous ligament has been well described, but there are few studies that correlate ultrasonographic findings with clinical pain and/or pathology. This preliminary study aims to test the hypothesis that unridden horses (n = 13) have a significantly reduced frequency of occurrence of ultrasonographic changes of the SSL consistent with a diagnosis of desmitis when compared to...
Morreale RJ, Wilkie DA, Gemensky-Metzler AJ, Weisbrode SE, Willis MA.To determine the acute histologic effects of semiconductor diode laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCP) on the normal equine eye. Methods: Part 1: eight eyes of four horses. Part 2: 10 eyes of five horses. Methods: Part 1: TSCP was performed on four eyes at 4 mm and four eyes at 6 mm posterior to the limbus with 15 sites treated in four quadrants at 1800 mW for 1500 ms. The globes were sectioned transversely or sagitally to examine all quadrants and histologic sections were taken every 1 mm for the entire globe. Part 2: Based on the results from Part 1, TSCP was performed at 20 sites ...
Vlaminck L, Hoegaerts M, Steenhaut M, Maes D, Saunders J, Gasthuys F.The aim of the study was to investigate post-extraction tooth drift in ponies and the influence of an intra-alveolar prosthesis. The maxillary 08 was bilaterally repulsed in five ponies under general anaesthesia. On one side the alveolus was left to granulate, and on the other a synthetic bone substitute prosthesis was fitted. Standard radiographic projections of the head were taken monthly during the first year and at 24 months post-operatively. Different cephalometric parameters were measured and statistically analyzed. Rostral and caudal drift were recognized in molar and premolar teeth, re...
Boesen MI, Nanni S, Langberg H, Boesen M, Falk-Ronne J, Bliddal H, Torp-Pedersen S.Sclerosing therapy has in recent studies showed promising results in patients with clinically and ultrasonographically diagnosed tendinosis in Achilles and patellar tendons. The aim of this investigation was to study the presence of intratendinous colour Doppler (CD) flow in horses with clinically diagnosed chronic tendinopathy and to test if experience from human studies could be extrapolated to horses. Special interest was focused on the treatment with sclerosing therapy and whether we could obtain the same successful peroperative findings as in humans. Four horses with clinically diagnosed ...
Porter BF, Storts RW, Payne HR, Edwards JF.Ganglioneuromas are complex tumors that arise in peripheral ganglia and are composed of well-differentiated neurons, nerve processes, Schwann cells, and enteric glial cells. The term ganglioneuromatosis (GN) denotes a regional or segmental proliferation of ganglioneuromatous tissue. This report describes an 8-year-old mixed breed horse with GN in a 25-cm segment of small colon. Grossly, the lesion consisted of numerous sessile to pedunculated nodules extending from the serosal surface. Histologic examination revealed the nodules to consist of fascicles of spindle-shaped cells consistent with S...
Auer U, Uray C, Mosing M.To investigate the onset and duration of neuromuscular blockade of rocuronium bromide and its associated haemodynamic effects at three doses in healthy horses. Methods: Prospective, randomized experimental study. Methods: Seven adult horses aged 3-20 (mean 10.3) years and weighing 466 +/- 44 (mean +/- SD) kg. Methods: Horses were anaesthetized three times with at least 2 weeks between. They were pre-medicated with 0.6 mg kg(-1) xylazine and 0.01 mg kg(-1) butorphanol i.v.. Anaesthesia was induced with 2.2 mg kg(-1) ketamine and 0.1 mg kg(-1) diazepam i.v.. Following orotracheal intubation anae...
Brown HM, Cuttino E, LeRoy BE.A 25-year-old Arabian gelding was presented for investigation of a subcutaneous neck mass. Fine-needle aspirates and impression smears revealed mast cells with widely varying degrees of cytoplasmic granulation and scattered eosinophils. Histopathology revealed a poorly circumscribed mass composed of sheets and bundles of mast cells with a large population of eosinophils. The mast cells were separated into numerous lobules by a heavy collagenous stroma, and multifocal collagen necrosis was present. Strong reactivity of the tumor cells for both Giemsa and toluidine blue stains confirmed the diag...
Davidson EJ, Martin BB, Parente EJ.3 racehorses were evaluated because of poor performance or abnormal noise originating from the upper portion of the respiratory tract. Results: During maximal exercise, initial dynamic videoendoscopy of the upper respiratory tract revealed complete arytenoid cartilage abduction in 2 horses and incomplete but adequate abduction of the left arytenoid cartilage in 1 horse. Subsequent exercising endoscopic evaluation revealed severe dynamic collapse of the left arytenoid cartilage and vocal fold in all 3 horses. Results: 2 horses were treated with prosthetic left laryngoplasty and raced successful...
Li H, Zou X, Springer M, Briest A, Lind M, Bünger C.Randomized and self-controlled study with anterior lumbar interbody fusion in a porcine model. Objective: To determine the osteoinductive potential of an equine bone protein extract in anterior interbody spinal fusion. Background: Interbody spinal fusion with bone graft transplantation is a common spine procedure. Complications related to bone graft harvesting are still a major concern. Equine demineralized bone matrix has been reported to be osteoinductive. However, the application of equine bone protein extract in spine fusion has not been documented. In this experiment, we evaluated equine ...
Vos NJ, Vos A.A salivary duct fistula in a horse was repaired surgically without using a stent. Seventeen months after the operation the skin incision had healed without complications and the fistula had not recurred.
Lores M, Stryhn H, McD○ L, Rose P, Muirhead T.To develop a transcutaneous ultrasonography (TUS) method for measuring the location of the stomach during various levels of fluid distension and evaluate any correlation between gastric fluid distension and stomach position. Methods: 6 adult horses. Methods: Known volumes of water were administered in 2 trials. In trial 1, the stomach was evaluated prior to and after the administration of 2, 4, and 6 L of water. In trial 2, the stomach was evaluated after administration of 6, 8, 10, and 12 L of water. The TUS was performed at the 7th through 16th left intercostal spaces (ICSs). For each volume...
Gupte CM, Bull AM, Murray R, Amis AA.The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence, position and relative sizes of the meniscofemoral ligaments (MFL) in three quadrupeds and humans and relate these to the caudal slope of the lateral tibial plateau. Canine, ovine and equine stifles and human knees were dissected to identify the presence of MFLs, their obliquity in relation to the caudal cruciate ligaments (CCL), the relative size and shape of the MFLs compared with the CCL, the points of femoral attachment of the MFLs and CCL, and the distance between the MFLs and CCL at their midpoints. The lateral tibial condyle was ...
Aleman M, Borchers A, Kass PH, Puchalski SM.To describe ultrasonographic landmarks for use in collection of CSF from the lumbosacral region in equids. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 37 equids (27 with neurologic disease and 10 with nonneurologic disease). Methods: Standing equids (n = 17) were sedated with detomidine hydrochloride (0.006 to 0.01 mg/kg [0.003 to 0.005 mg/lb], IV) followed by butorphanol tartrate (0.01 mg/kg, IV) and restrained with a nose twitch for collection of CSF. The CSF was collected from 20 laterally recumbent equids (10 sedated and 10 immediately after euthanasia). Anatomic landmarks were identified ultraso...
Umar MA, Yamashita K, Kushiro T, Muir WW.To evaluate the cardiovascular effects of total IV anesthesia with propofol (P-TIVA) or ketamine-medetomidine-propofol (KMP-TIVA) in horses. Methods: 5 Thoroughbreds. Methods: Horses were anesthetized twice for 4 hours, once with P-TIVA and once with KMP-TIVA. Horses were medicated with medetomidine (0.005 mg/kg, IV) and anesthetized with ketamine (2.5 mg/kg, IV) and midazolam (0.04 mg/kg, IV). After receiving a loading dose of propofol (0.5 mg/kg, IV), anesthesia was maintained with a constant rate infusion of propofol (0.22 mg/kg/min) for P-TIVA or with a constant rate infusion of propofol (...
Dyson SJ, Weekes JS, Murray RC.The aim of the study was to characterize radiopharmaceutical uptake patterns in horses with clinical and ultrasonographic evidence of proximal suspensory desmitis. It was hypothesized that radiopharmaceutical uptake in the proximal palmar (plantar) aspect of the third metacarpal (metatarsal) bone would be greater in lame limbs of horses with proximal suspensory desmitis than in sound limbs and that there would be a positive correlation between the severity of ultrasonographic abnormalities and the degree of radiopharmaceutical uptake. Nuclear scintigraphic evaluation of the proximal metacarpal...
Di Concetto S, Michael Archer R, Sigurdsson SF, Clarke K.A pony undergoing elective castration accidentally received an overdose of IV detomidine (200 microg kg(-1)) before anaesthesia was induced with ketamine and midazolam. A further 100 microg kg(-1) IV dose of detomidine was administered during anaesthesia. The mistake was recognized only when the animal failed to recover from anaesthesia in the expected time. The overdose (300 microg kg(-1) in total) was treated successfully with atipamezole, initially given IV and subsequently IM and titrated to effect to a total dose of 1100 microg kg(-1). The pony regained the standing position. A further in...
Bidwell LA, Bramlage LR, Rood WA.To determine the fatality rate of horses undergoing general anaesthesia at a private equine referral practice using a limited number of anaesthetic protocols. Methods: A retrospective analysis of records (n = 17 961) from all horses undergoing general anaesthesia for surgical procedures from 1997 to 2001 at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Results were reported as percentage of the population, and as crude mortality rates for each procedure (deaths per 1000). Results: The prevalence of equine fatalities directly related to anaesthesia was 0.12% (n = 21) and this rose ...
Spadavecchia C, Arendt-Nielsen L, Spadavecchia L, Mosing M, Auer U, van den Hoven R.To assess the effects of a single intravenous dose of butorphanol (0.1 mg kg(-1)) on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) using threshold, suprathreshold and repeated subthreshold electrical stimuli in conscious horses. Methods: 'Unblinded', prospective experimental study. Methods: Ten adult horses, five geldings and five mares, mean body mass 517 kg (range 487-569 kg). Methods: The NWR was elicited using single transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the palmar digital nerve. Repeated stimulations were applied to evoke temporal summation. Surface electromyography was performed to record a...
Cole R, Chesen AB, Pool R, Watkins J.Equine mast cell tumors are typically benign solitary growths of the head, neck, trunk, or limbs. When involving the limbs, these masses tend to be adjacent to joints without involving them. In radiographs there is often a well-circumscribed soft tissue mass with granular mineralization. The Arabian breed appears to be over represented. Surgical removal is usually curative. In this report, we describe the diagnosis, clinical features, and management of mast cell tumors in the rear limb of a horse.
Parsons KJ, Wilson AM.MP3 recorders are readily available, small, lightweight and low cost, providing the potential for logging analogue hoof mounted accelerometer signals for the characterisation of equine locomotion. These, however, require testing in practice. Objective: To test whether 1) multiple MP3 recorders can maintain synchronisation, giving the ability to synchronise independent recorders for the logging of multiple limbs simultaneously; and 2) features of a foot mounted accelerometer signal attributable to foot-on and foot-off can be accurately identified from horse foot mounted accelerometers logged di...
Smith MR, Wright IM, Smith RK.Clinical lesions of the deep digital flexor tendon and navicular bone are being reported with increasing frequency. However, the role of direct visualisation by navicular bursoscopy in the diagnosis and management of such injuries has not been explored. Objective: Navicular bursoscopy: 1) corroborates information obtained from other, noninvasive imaging modalities; 2) allows direct visualisation of lesions unidentified by other diagnostic modalities; 3) provides further information on morphology of lesions; and 4) permits minimally invasive surgical access to lesions. Methods: The case records...
David F, Rougier M, Alexander K, Morisset S.Coxofemoral joint pain is probably underestimated due to difficulties in identifying hip pain. The deep location of the joint and proximity of the sciatic nerve make arthrocentesis based on external landmarks a difficult and potentially risky procedure in mature horses. Objective: To describe an ultrasound-guided injection technique of the coxofemoral joint in standing horses and to evaluate its accuracy and potential difficulties/complications. Methods: Nine mature horses had both pelvic areas prepared for sterile ultrasound examination (3.5 MHz curvilinear probe). Coxofemoral joints were loc...
Hort I.In this study the treatment of a mandibular fracture in a 26 year old Arab horse, the history during the subsequent 4 years and the anatomical post-mortem findings are presented and described.
Tranquilli WJ, Manohar M, Thurmon JC, Benson GJ, Shawley RV, Feller DL.A technique was developed for the implantation of an electromagnetic flow probe and vascular occluder onto the right and left coronary arteries in the calf and pony. Surgical manipulation was well tolerated in the animals. The subcutaneous housing on the peripheral ends of these devices of the lateral thoracic wall served as a maintenance-free technique for chronic exteriorization of these devices. Implantation onto the coronary arteries required a surgical technique which accomplished the prerequisites for proper flow probe function. A reactive hyperemic response was elicited in each animal b...
Lohse J, Pietrantoni P, Tummers C.Burn injuries are uncommon in large animals and there are no reports of these injuries in donkeys. Burns cause local and systemic effects. Extensive thermal injuries can be challenging to manage and the extent of the burn surface affected will directly impact the severity of the illness and the prognosis. Burns are classified according to the depth of injury into four categories, from first-degree burns, and the least affect to fourth-degree burns, which are the more severely affected patients. This case report describes the medical management of four donkeys that sustained various degrees of ...
Wyn-Jones G, Jones RS, Church S.One of the major obstacles to successful intranasal surgery in the horse is haemorrhage, even minor interferences causing profuse bleeding. Conventional techniques for haemostasis are ineffective or inhibit the progress of the surgery. Temporary bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery resulted in a substantial reduction in haemorrhage during intranasal surgery in five horses, with much improved visibility and facility of operation. The large contribution to the circle of Willis by the ventral spinal artery is believed to prevent cerebral ischaemia during this procedure. This paper des...
Ziska SM, Schumacher J, Duran SH, Brock KV.To develop a high-speed, continuous-flow, automated plasmapheresis procedure for the high-volume harvest of equine plasma in accordance with current good manufacturing practice. Methods: 143 horses (predominantly draft breeds) between 3 and 10 years of age at the time of purchase. Methods: Adaptations were made to automated plasmapheresis instruments and sterile disposable collection sets, which allowed for dual-instrument, continuous-flow operation. Donor horses were connected to the apparatus via 2 catheters (1 inserted in each jugular vein). The instruments removed whole blood from donors, ...
Campbell-Beggs CL, Kiper ML, MacAllister C, Henry G, Roszel JF.Esophagoscopy allowed visualization and biopsy of a lesion within a diverticulum of the esophagus in an adult horse. Although the biopsy specimen obtained was small, diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma was possible from histologic examination of the esophageal tissue sample retrieved by use of endoscopy.
WITZEL DA, MULLENAX CH.THE NEED FOR splenectomized horses in piroplasmosis research prompted this study. Quinlan et at.1 described in detail problems encountered using the paralumbar approach to splenectomy. Gaining easy access to the splenic ligaments and vessels was difficult; for this reason the type and age of horse which could be used were limited. The purpose of this report is to present technic by which horses of varying size, age, and conformation can be splenectomized with minimum of stress on the patient and on the surgeon.
Chisholm FR.A prolapsed uterus in a mare and the techniques to successfully replace the organ and prevent complications such as shock, laminitis and metritis are described.
Jann HW, Good JK, Morgan SJ, Berry A.Healing of transected superficial digital flexor tendons was evaluated mechanically and histologically in eight horses. Tendons sutured with polyglyconate had higher loads at failure than nonsutured tendons at weeks 5 and 9. The tendon stress at failure (force per unit area) was higher in the sutured tendons at week 5 but not at week 9, reflecting the increased size of the scar at week 9. Histologically, scars after tenorrhaphy were consistently more mature than nonsutured tenotomy scars. The mean maturity score for sutured tendons was higher than for nonsutured tendons at weeks 5 and 9. Overa...
Kuemmerle JM, Berchtold S.This study compared the areas of cartilage accessible for curettage in arthrodesis of the equine proximal interphalangeal joint using the conventional and collateral ligament sparing approaches. For this purpose, forelimbs and hindlimbs of six equine cadavers without radiographic evidence of proximal interphalangeal joint disease were used. One limb of each pair of limbs was randomly assigned to a dissection using a standard approach to the proximal interphalangeal joint including transection of the collateral ligaments, while each contralateral limb was exposed using the same approach but lea...
Buck AM, Hunt RJ.To describe the surgical correction of a closed meningoencephalocele in a thoroughbred filly. Methods: Case report. Methods: One thoroughbred filly, 1.5 months old at the time of surgery. Methods: A meningoencephalocele was identified at birth and diagnosed with radiography and MRI. The abnormal tissue was excised and submitted for histopathology, the dura was closed, and the defect in the skull was corrected with a titanium mesh. Results: Histopathology confirmed the presence of neural parenchyma consisting of neurons and glial cells. The filly remained without neurologic deficits 7 month...
Brink P, Schumacher J.To report clinical signs and management of hypospadias in a horse. Methods: Clinical report. Methods: A 6-year-old, Friesian gelding. Methods: Partial phallectomy was performed to resolve contact dermatitis of the pelvic limbs and abnormal behavior during urination. Subsequent urethral meatal stenosis was treated by revision. Results: Hypospadias and chordee caused altered direction of urine flow, contact dermatitis of the pelvic limbs, and abnormal behavior. Partial phallectomy and subsequent revision after meatal stenosis resolved urine direction, flow and abnormal behavior. Conclusions: Abn...
Siwinska N, Zak A, Slowikowska M, Paslawska U.Reliable and simple tests are constantly being sought to enable the quick detection of acute kidney injury in humans and animals. Diagnosis of subclinical AKI in horses, mainly in field practice, is difficult. An ultrasound scan is a routine test performed when kidney disease is suspected. The aim of the study was to establish the value of the renal resistive index (RRI) in intrarenal arteries in horses with clinical AKI and compare it to that of healthy horses. The second goal was to determine whether potentially nephrotoxic agents can influence RRI. The kidney ultrasonography examination was...
Best C, Coe JB, Hewson J, Meehan M, Kelton D.Little is known about the veterinary referral process and factors that contribute to positive outcomes. Objective: To investigate equine referring veterinarians' (rDVMs') satisfaction with their most recent referral experience and compare rDVM and specialist perspectives. Methods: 187 rDVMs and 92 specialists (referral care providers). Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. An online survey was administered to both rDVMs and specialists. Referring veterinarian satisfaction with their most recent referral experience was evaluated. Both rDVMs and specialists were asked to identify factors...
Scott EA, Todhunter R.In 2 cases of chronic intestinal intussusception in horses, one involved jejunum and the other, ileum. The only clinical signs observed were intermittent colic. Surgery was performed on both horses, with successful outcomes.