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.
Brown CC, McClure JJ, Triche P, Crowder C.Excisional biopsy specimens were received from 8 horses with lesions suspected of being caused by Pythium sp. Pythium sp was isolated from all specimens. An indirect peroxidase technique was applied to formalin-fixed tissues from the biopsy material and there was distinct staining of hyphal cell walls in all specimens. Sections containing hyphae, other than those of Pythium sp, failed to stain. The indirect peroxidase technique could be used for confirmation of suspected cases of pythiosis.
Clem MF, DeBowes RM, Douglass JP, Leipold HW, Chalman JA.The effects of radioulnar fixation were studied in 21 Quarter horse foals by applying a bone plate to the caudal aspect of the proximal part of the ulna, with screws engaging both the radius and the ulna. The plates were applied at 1 month of age in six foals (group I), 5 months of age in six foals (group II), and 7 months of age in three foals (group III). Six foals underwent sham operations at 1 month of age to serve as controls (group IV). Ulnar dysplasia and elbow subluxation developed in all treated foals. The magnitude of ulnar dysplasia was inversely related to the patient's age at fixa...
Todhunter RJ, Parker JE.A recently castrated horse was examined because of preputial and ventral abdominal swelling, prolapse of the preputial fold, and serosanguinous fluid dripping from the external urethral orifice. After a poor response to initial medical management, a urethral laceration was found during exploratory surgery. Half of the ventral portion of the corpus cavernosum penis had been transected. Primary closure was followed by healing without complications.
Duncan JL, Arundel JH, Drudge JH, Malczewski A, Slocombe JO.These guidelines have been designed to assist in the planning, operation and interpretation of studies which would serve to assess the efficacy of drugs against internal parasites of horses. Although the term anthelmintic is used in the title and text, these guidelines include studies on drug efficacy against larvae of horse bot flies, Gasterophilus spp, which are non-helminth parasites commonly occurring in the stomach of horses. The advantages, disadvantages and application of critical and controlled tests are presented. Information is also provided on selection of animals, housing, feed, do...
Gaughan EM, Fubini SL, Dietze A.Over an 8-year period, 14 horses were admitted to the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine for evaluation of fistulous withers. Of the 14 horses, 11 were treated surgically and 3 were not treated. Surgical techniques involved radical excision of the affected soft tissue and spinous processes of affected vertebrae. Recurrence rate was 30%, and these horses required additional surgery to resolve the problem.
Lloyd KC, Peterson PR, Wheat JD, Ryan AE, Clark JH.The diagnosis of keratoma in 7 horses and their treatment and outcome were evaluated. Horses were 2 to 20 years old, of various breeds, and were intact or castrated males. All were lame, and 6 horses had had previous injuries of the affected hoof that had not responded to prior treatments. Only 1 hoof was affected in each horse. Keratomas were beneath the hoof wall (6 horses) or sole (1 horse). Radiographically, a circular or semicircular defect with a discrete margin was present in the distal portion of the third phalanx in 3 horses. Grossly, keratomas were firm solitary masses (1.5 to 5 cm d...
Taylor PM, Browning AP, Harris CP.Combinations of detomidine (mean dose rate 13 micrograms/kg) and butorphanol (mean dose rate 26 micrograms/kg) were used to sedate 61 horses for a variety of surgical or diagnostic procedures in general equine practice. Three horses were sedated on more than one occasion. The degree of sedation was graded from 3 to 0 (deep sedation to no effect) and any side effects were recorded. Forty-three per cent of the horses were graded 3, 46 per cent were graded 2, 8 per cent were graded 1 and 3 per cent were graded 0. Bradycardia and ataxia were the major side effects. The combination was judged to be...
Shappell KK, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, Robinson NE.Effects of ventriculectomy and prosthetic laryngoplasty on upper airway flow mechanics and blood gas tensions in exercising horses with induced left laryngeal hemiplegia were assessed. Five adult horses were trained to stand, trot (4.5 m/s), and gallop (7.2 m/s) on a treadmill (6.38 degrees incline). Inspiratory and expiratory airflows (VImax, VEmax, respectively) were measured using a 15.2-cm diameter pneumotachograph in a face mask. Inspiratory and expiratory transupper airway pressures (PuI, PuE, respectively) were determined as pressure differences between barometric pressure and lateral t...
Bristol DG, Cullen J.Six animals were used to compare simple interrupted, simple continuous, and stapled techniques for end-to-end rotated small colon anastomoses. Three ponies were evaluated three days after surgery for adhesion formation and luminal diameter at each anastomosis site. Two ponies and one horse were evaluated 14 days after surgery for adhesion formation. All anastomosis sites were examined histologically for alignment of tissue planes, and evidence of inflammation. No single technique was superior in all areas examined. While only three of the nine anastomoses had mild fibrinous adhesions at three ...
Losonsky JM, Kneller SK.Bilateral metacarpophalangeal radiographs of 100 Standardbreds were examined for visualization and location of nutrient foramina of the proximal phalanx. Foramina were located in the dorsal or palmar cortex or were not visible radiographically. Of 100 horses, 45 had bilaterally symmetrical foramina. Left and right proximal phalangeal foramina were asymmetrical in the remaining 55 horses. Of 200 proximal phalangeal foramina (in 100 horses), 78 were in the dorsal cortex, 61 were in the palmar cortex, and 61 were not visible radiographically. A significant (P = 0.05) effect of age or sex could no...
Adams R, Calderwood-Mays MB, Peyton LC.Three horses were examined for ulcerative pharyngitis, which had been unresponsive to treatment. Biopsy specimens of the pharyngeal lesions were characterized histologically by a mixed population of lymphocytes and histiocytes, suggesting chronic inflammation. Only when biopsy specimens of regional lymph nodes revealed this cell population disrupting the lymph node architecture was the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma made.
Nixon AJ, Stashak TS.Malalignment of the atlas and axis was seen in 4 horses with an idiopathic form of atlantoaxial subluxation characterized by spinal cord compression on extension. The bone structure and density of the atlas and axis were radiographically normal in 3 of the 4 horses. Clinical signs appeared when the horses were 6 to 30 months old, and 3 of the 4 horses had a history of trauma. Although a congenital anomaly could not be ruled out, the cause was thought to be trauma. The horses were moderately to severely ataxic at the time of examination. Myelography revealed compression of the spinal cord at th...
Bukowiecki CF, Sanders-Shamis M, Bramlage LR.Medial collateral ligament ruptures in horses are rare and difficult to treat. Conservative treatment usually results in degenerative joint disease that causes permanent lameness. Surgical treatment may be an alternative for salvaging horses for breeding purpose.
Scotti E, Jeffcott LB.An in vitro study on the calcaneus of adult horses (n = 5) and foals (n = 10) was carried out using radiographic photodensitometry, single photon absorptiometry, transmission ultrasound velocity and chemical analysis. Data for trabecular bone content, ash, calcium and phosphorus levels were obtained. As techniques for assessing bone quality, ultrasound velocity was not sufficiently sensitive nor accurate and radiographic photodensitometry was found to be limited value. Photon absorptiometry was both accurate and reproducible, although some variation in bone mineral content and bone mineral den...
Hanson RR, Nixon AJ, Calderwood-Mays M, Gronwall R, Pendergast JF.Two techniques for end-to-end anastomosis of the small colon were evaluated in each of 6 horses. A simple interrupted suture pattern that excluded the mucosa and was oversewn with an inverting suture was compared with a triangulated double-row pattern of stainless steel staples. Anastomotic sites were evaluated at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months for extent of abdominal adhesions, lumen diameter at anastomotic sites, bursting pressures, and healing response. Clinical postoperative complications were not associated with either technique. At postmortem examination, there was extensive adhesion fo...
Pilsworth RC, Webbon PM.Five horses, all two year old Thoroughbreds, presented with acute onset hindlimb lameness following moderate to fast exercise. The use of a hand-held scintillation detector after Tc99 MDP injection greatly aided the diagnosis of tibial stress fractures in these horses. Radiological findings were subtle, involving only periosteal new bone and callus at the fracture site. In two cases this took several weeks to develop but in three others was present at the onset of lameness, indicating insidious pre-fracture bone pathology. The site of the most obvious radiological signs was constant in all fiv...
Held JP, Patton CS, Shires M.Osteochondroma of the distal portion of the radius was diagnosed in 3 horses with a history of lameness and distention of the common tendon sheath of the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons at the level of the carpal canal. In 2 horses, the exostosis was removed through an incision at the caudal border of the lateral digital extensor muscle above the carpal ligament.
Jeffcott LB, Buckingham SH, McCarthy RN, Cleeland JC, Scotti E, McCartney RN.The current methods for non-invasive measurement of bone quality are reviewed. In the horse this has traditionally involved the use of radiography, but there are now two other modalities available for the critical evaluation of cortical bone quality and strength. These utilise single photon absorptiometry and ultrasound velocity. Photon absorptiometry gives a direct measurement of bone mineral content, by using a monoenergetic radionuclide source, and transverse ultrasound velocity in bone gives a measure of bone stiffness or elasticity. They can both be used conveniently on the metacarpus of ...
Archer RM, Schneider RK, Lindsay WA, Wilson JW.Perforated stainless steel cylinders filled with autogenous cancellous bone were implanted in the distal tarsal joints of four horses. Graft cell survival was poor two weeks after surgery in one horse. In two horses, at 10 months there was partial arthrodesis of the joints with incorporation of the implants into the osseous union. The implants were filled with vascularised woven bone. These two horses were sound nine months after surgery. One horse fractured its third tarsal bone and was still positive to a hock flexion test 12 months after surgery.
Spurlock GH, Spurlock SL.A 3-year-old Welsh pony mare was referred for evaluation of right hind limb lameness. The lameness developed 4 months after the pony had been captured by use of a projectile dart syringe to administer a tranquilizer. The lameness was attributable to a projectile dart foreign body. The dart was removed after induction of local anesthesia, and the lameness improved. The use of projected syringes has inherent risk, and clients should be advised before they are used.
Hanson RR, Nixon AJ, Calderwood-Mays M, Gronwall R.In an attempt to determine the best method for surgical removal of devitalized small colon lesions, 12 horses underwent a double small colon resection and end-to-end anastomosis. In 4 horses (study 1), an appositional single-layer (APP-1) suture pattern was compared with an inverting 2-layer (INV-2) suture pattern. In 8 horses (study 2), an appositional 2-layer (APP-2) suture pattern was compared with the INV-2 suture technique. Polydioxanone suture (size 1-0), was used. Horses were evaluated at necropsy 3, 10, 14, 28, or 56 days after surgery. Postoperative complications (peritonitis, impacti...
Honnas CM, Wheat JD.Transnasal, axial division of the aryepiglottic fold was performed to correct entrapment of the epiglottis in 20 sedated, standing horses, using a hooked bistoury and topical anesthesia. Presenting complaints included decreased exercise tolerance or loss of racing performance, abnormal respiratory noise, and coughing. The surgical procedure was technically easy to perform with a minimum of instrumentation. The horses were rested an average of 18 days before race training or riding was resumed. Evaluation of racing records or contact with owners indicated that most affected horses competed succ...
French DD, Klei TM, Foil CS, Miller RI, Foil LD, Chapman MR, McClure JJ.The efficacy of a single dose of ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg), in injectable or paste formulations, against microfilariae of Onchocerca cervicalis and associated skin lesions was evaluated in 20 naturally infected horses during midsummer months in Louisiana. All horses had clinical signs of dermatitis of the ventral midline and/or limbs, shoulders, thorax, and withers. Efficacy was monitored at 21, 42, and 63 days after treatment. Procedures done at these intervals included microfilarial counts of 6-mm skin biopsy specimens of affected ventral midline, grading of gross lesions, and photography and h...
White NA, McIlwraith CW, Allen D.Fifty-one horses and unilateral or bilateral femorotibial arthrotomy with medial condyle bone cyst curettage. A total of 60 cyst were treated. Treated horses responded to the surgery three to 12 months postoperatively. In 42 horses lameness was reduced or eliminated, enabling them to return to an remain in their intended function. Of these 42 horses 35 are sound, four of which have not started training, and seven showed partial improvement, two of which had no long term follow up. Of the remaining nine horses, two showed no reduction in lameness and seven were not followed up. Arthrotomy was s...
Tulleners EP, Harrison IW, Mann P, Raker CW.Left-sided partial arytenoidectomy was performed in eight horses to evaluate healing. Four horses underwent conventional partial arytenoidectomy with suture apposition of the mucosa. In four horses, most of the arytenoid cartilage, including overlying mucosa, vocal fold, and laryngeal saccule, were excised en bloc without mucosal closure. The horses were monitored clinically by endoscopic examination. One horse from each group was euthanatized at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 16. Complete necropsies with gross and histologic examination of the arytenoidectomy sites were performed. Postoperative complicat...
O'Brien RT, Biller DS.This article addresses the current status and clinical opportunities for portable radiography and ultrasonography. Radiology is indicated for imaging the nasal cavity, larynx, pharynx and thin portions of the neck. In young foals, adequate radiographs of the entire respiratory tract may be possible. Ultrasonography is indicated in superficial parts of the head and neck, the pleural space and diseased parts of the lungfields.
Gideon L.Esophageal anastomosis was performed on 2 foals after resecting a midcervical stricture. Nasogastric tube alimentation and antibiotic therapy allowed these foals to recover, and they matured to useful performing horses. These cases demonstrated a feasible and successful surgical management regimen for the strictured esophagus.
del Junco CI, Mair TS, Powell SE, Milner PI, Font AF, Schwarz T, Weaver MP.The magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features, signalment, clinical history and outcome of 55 horses with a penetrating sole injury were evaluated. Our aim was to describe MR imaging findings within the hoof capsule, assess the utility of the technique and give recommendations for the optimal MR imaging protocol to evaluate such injuries. Data from five equine hospitals were analyzed retrospectively. The tract was more likely to be visualized in animals scanned within the first week postinjury. There was no significant predisposition based on breed, age, or gender. T2*W transverse sequences wer...
Hughes JP, Kennedy PC.TWo cases of XO-gonadal dysgenesis in the mare are presented. Case No 1 was a pure 63, XO, while Case No 2 was a mosaic with a preponderance of XX cells. The clinical picture was one of phenotypically normal female mares with small uteri and infantile ovaries. The ovaries lacked germ cells, and consisted of stroma only. This study emphasizes the importance of chromosome analysis in providing information concerning the mechanisms involved is some cases of equine infertility.
Sturgeon BP, Milne EM, Smith KC.A 20 x 10 cm, lobulated mass was present in the perianal region of a 4-year-old Dales pony. Histopathology revealed an unencapsulated, loose arrangement of sheets and whorls of narrow mesenchymal cells, situated in the deep dermis. Intervening areas had a myxomatous appearance. The whorls were often arranged around a central structure resembling an axon or a vascular structure. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the elongated mesenchymal cells and central axon-like structures expressed vimentin, S-100, and neuron-specific enolase, but not pancytokeratin, glial fibrillary acid protein, and the ...
Labelle AL, Metzler AG, Wilkie DA.Neoplasia, for which surgical excision is a frequent treatment, is the most common disease of the equine nictitating membrane. There is little long-term follow-up information available to the practitioner regarding the long-term effects of nictitating membrane excision on ocular health. No information is available to compare recurrence of primary neoplasia of the nictitating membrane after excision with local or general anaesthesia. Objective: To evaluate the long-term complications of nictitating membrane resection in horses; recurrence of neoplasia of the nictitating membrane when nictitatin...