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.
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...
Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.A Dutch Warmblood yearling stallion was referred for skin lesions, oedema and diarrhoea. At rectal palpation a cecocolonic intussusception was diagnosed, that might have been present for at least one week. A short literature review of cecocolonic intussusception is given.
Kannegieter NJ, Colgan SA.The arthroscopic findings in 104 intercarpal joints in 76 horses were reviewed to determine the incidence and severity of changes in the medial intercarpal ligament. Damage to the intercarpal ligament was observed in 43 joints in 35 horses, ranging from mild fraying of the edges of the ligament to complete disruption of all fibres. This represented an incidence of 41% of joints being affected. In 9 joints examined arthroscopically primarily as a further diagnostic procedure, ligament damage was evident in all cases. In horses undergoing arthroscopic surgery primarily for the treatment of osteo...
Young SS, Taylor PM.Patient data, physiological variables and recovery quality were extracted from 1,314 records of equine anaesthetics covering a 7-year period and analysed retrospectively. Better recovery quality was significantly associated with shorter duration of anaesthesia, longer recovery times, less invasive surgery, a lower pulse rate at induction and higher pulse and respiratory rates during anaesthesia. Nineteen animals suffered serious anaesthetic-related problems (1.4% incidence) and 9 died (0.68% incidence). Clinical treatment of hypotension during anaesthesia significantly reduced the hypotensive ...
Sams AE, Weldon AD, Rakestraw P.Three horses were diagnosed as having esophageal inclusion cysts. Clinical signs included dysphagia, swelling of the cervical esophagus, and salivation. Surgical removal of the cyst was attempted in two horses. Both horses survived, but multiple complications occurred, including esophageal fistulation and neurovascular damage. Marsupialization of the cyst was performed in the third horse. The stoma closed 3 weeks after surgery without complications, and endoscopic examination revealed a grossly normal esophagus. Marsupialization may be preferable to surgical removal for treatment of selected e...
McKellar GM, Collins AP.The surgical correction of facial deformities of the horse have rarely been undertaken. The surgical and medical management of submucous clefting of the anterior maxilla in a young colt is described.
Meireles MC, Riet-Correa F, Fischman O, Zambrano AF, Zambrano MS, Ribeiro GA.Equine pythiosis was studied in five animals from two farms located in a swampy region of southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul State). Granulomatous lesions exuding necrotic material and containing a central yellow and firm tissue core, the 'kunker', were observed on the top of the nose of one horse, on the abdomen of two horses and on the hind limbs of two other animals. Direct microscopic preparations, histopathological examination of lesion material, and macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the isolates confirmed the diagnosis of pythiosis. Surgical intervention of the inflammatory ...
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...
Lumsden JM, Caron JP, Stickle RL.Bilateral radiographically persistent proximal third metatarsal physes and concurrent cuboidal bone immaturity were identified in a foal. Repair of a Salter type-II fracture of the left proximal third metatarsal physis was accomplished by use of lag screw fixation. A 6-day-old Arabian foal, intended for use as a show horse, was referred because of severe unilateral hind limb lameness and valgus deformity. A Salter type-II fracture of the proximal portion of the third metacarpal bone was identified radiographically and repaired by use of cancellous lag screws. The fractured limb was further sup...
Künzel W, Forstenpointner G, Skolek-Winnisch R.The laterocranial fascia of the upper arm and forearm, as well as aponeurotic relationships of the Musculus biceps brachii were investigated on each of ten forelimbs from horses, cattle and swine. Ten canine biceps were also investigated. Equine and bovine fascia contain elastic components. An as-yet undescribed ligament-like aponeuroses of the laterocranial forearm fascia to the Fossa radialis humeri was seen in all three species studied. The laterocranial fascia of the upper and forearm form a common passage for the Musculi brachialis et extensor carpi radialis. In the case of the horse, the...
Huber MJ, Roser JF, Riebold TW, Schmotzer WB, Grubb TL, Crisman RO.Seven pregnant mares underwent general anaesthesia, laparotomy, hysterotomy and removal of a 50-day conceptus. Eversion of the uterine horn through the hysterotomy site allowed direct visualisation and electrosurgical removal of endometrial cup tissue from 5 randomly selected mares (Nos 1-5), while cup tissue in 2 mares (Nos 6 and 7) was left intact. Two pregnant mares served as unoperated controls (Nos 8 and 9). Efforts to re-establish pregnancy were initiated 20 days after surgery. Serum samples collected before surgery and during the post-operative period were analysed for concentration of ...
Honnas CM, Zamos DT, Ford TS.An arthroscopic procedure for examination of the coxofemoral joint was developed in nine foals (four cadavers, five anesthetized) to determine if access was sufficient for evaluation and surgical treatment of intra-articular lesions. The joint was distended and the arthroscope inserted through the notch (incisura trochanterica) between the cranial and caudal parts of the greater trochanter. This portal allowed examination of the cranial, lateral, and caudal aspects of the joint. Mechanical distraction of the joint through an instrument portal located 2 to 4 cm cranial and 1 to 2 cm ventral to ...
Smith KC, Tearle JP, Boyle MS, Gower SM, Mumford JA.Equid herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1; Ab4 isolate) was inoculated unilaterally into the cavum vaginale of four pony colts under general anaesthesia. The animals were monitored daily for evidence of scrotal or testicular swelling and euthanased electively on days 3, 4, 6 and 12 after infection. Detailed pathological examination of the male genital tract was carried out. In animals examined at days 3 and 4 after infection, replication of EHV-1 was detected bilaterally in mesothelial and endothelial cells of the parietal and visceral vaginal tunics. The mesothelial infection had resolved by day 12 after in...
Touratier L.There is increasing interest in many parts of the world in trypanosomoses other than those transmitted by tsetse flies, as shown by numerous research projects and field studies. The refinement of techniques for studying the behaviour of trypanosomes (techniques of molecular biology) in axenic culture or in the parasitised host has led to progress in diagnosis and immunology, and a rational approach to chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis of these infections. Field trials of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in Africa, Asia and South America have shown that these tests may now be regarded as reli...
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.
Fessler JF, Faber NA, Blevins WE, Coatney RW.A 13-year-old Belgian stallion developed a squamous cell carcinoma at the site of a neck laceration that had been treated topically with various irritating chemicals for 18 months. Orthovoltage treatments at 3 times over 5 years controlled the tumor. Eight years after the initial hospitalization, the area was healed and the stallion appeared healthy.
Dascanio JJ, Ball BA, Hendrickson DA.A 3-cm full-thickness tear near the tip of the previously gravid uterine horn of a 12-year-old Thoroughbred mare was diagnosed at surgery. The mare had delivered a foal with veterinary assistance 2 days prior to surgery. The mare subsequently developed muscle tremors, anorexia, and signs of depression. Physical examination revealed pyrexia, extended capillary refill time, muscle fasciculations, and fewer-than-normal borborygmi. Abnormalities of the uterus or vagina were not detected by palpation per rectum or per vagina. The chorioallantois underlying the area of the tear was intact. We propos...
Kübleck E.The pathology of a horse is described, in which thoracic trauma with costal fracture and a small diaphragmatic defect later led to entrapment of small intestine in the thorax.
Zamos DT, Ford TS, Cohen ND, Crossland LE.Two mares developed segmental ischemic necrosis of the small intestine after parturition. In one mare, the mesentery of the small intestine apparently tore during parturition, after which necrosis developed in a 52-cm segment of the distal portion of jejunum. In the other mare, a 52-cm segment of the proximal portion of ileum tore during parturition. Three weeks later, a 40-cm segment of the distal portion of jejunum became incarcerated in the mesenteric rent and twisted 360 degrees on its mesentery. Both mares recovered after resection of affected intestine and are functioning as broodmares.
Olson KN, Klein LV, Nann LE, Soma LR.Six horses were administered isoflurane anesthesia by liquid injection into a closed breathing circuit according to the square root of time model. The unit dose (UD) was calculated using Lowe's formula to provide an end-tidal concentration of 1.3%, or the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane. The mean UD was 4.2 +/- 0.2 mL. The mean end-tidal isoflurane concentration (ETiso) for each interval after injection, and the peak and minimum concentrations for each injection interval, did not change beginning with the second injection, indicating that the square root of time model accurately p...
Wright IM.The technique of navicular suspensory desmotomy for the treatment of navicular disease is described and the rationale behind its development is discussed. To date 16 horses involved in a clinical evaluation of the technique have been assessed six months after surgery. Thirteen of these horses are able to work without lameness.
Clarke KL, Reardon R, Russell T.To determine if arthroscopic surgery performed on weanlings/yearlings with trochlear ridge OCD of the femur (stifle OCD), or intermediate ridge of the tibia (tarsal OCD) detected on routine presale radiographs affects future racing performance. Methods: Retrospective case control study. Methods: Thoroughbred weanlings and yearlings. Methods: Stifle (N = 37; 22 male, 15 female) and tarsal (N = 35; 22 male, 13 female) OCD cases were identified. Outcome measures relating to racing performance (number of race starts, wins, places, and prize money earned, from races in their 2- and 3-year-old racin...