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.
This article provides an overview of initial assessment and management of common emergency presentations in donkeys and mules. The principles are similar to those in horses (and ponies), but clinicians must be aware of differences in recognition of signs of pain/disease, approach to handling, pharmacology of some drugs, and subtle differences in the physiology and local anatomy in donkeys and mules. The epidemiology of common disease presentations will vary between pet/companion or working/farmed donkeys and mules. Regular dental checks, deworming, vaccination, and monitoring of behavior and q...
Eight mares with third-degree rectovestibular lacerations were treated by a two-stage surgical technique. The rectovestibular shelf was corrected with three parallel 'circular' continuous suture rows distributed along the longitudinal axis of the vagina, and the perineal body was reconstructed with three divergent simple continuous rows. Primary healing of the first-stage surgery occurred in all the mares. Seven of the mares completed the two-stage surgery and primary healing occurred in all of them. One of them returned to endurance racing competition and one was lost to follow-up. The other ...
A 4-week old Quarter Horse filly was evaluated for abnormal gait and lateral deviation of the cervical spine. Physical examination findings prompted radiographs and computed tomography of the thoracic vertebral column which revealed hypoplasia of several thoracic vertebral bodies and resultant scoliosis of the thoracic vertebral column and deviation of the left and right hemithoraces and associated ribs. Collectively, radiography and computed tomography provided an accurate description of the vertebral malformations resulting in scoliosis in this foal.
A 4-month-old Thoroughbred filly presented for abdominal pain was diagnosed with a T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon at exploratory laparotomy. Following resection and anastomosis of the large colon, no further episodes of abdominal pain occurred during a 12-month follow-up. Acute dehiscence of the linea alba occurred as a complication of the initial laparotomy, but was successfully managed following additional surgical repair. T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon has not previously been reported and is considered a congenital malformation of mesocolon formation.
Within the veterinary world, data regarding the surgical management of hypospadias is lacking. Reports within equines have documented resective phallectomy procedures rather than urethral reconstruction. This case report documents the first ever urethroplasty for an equine hypospadias, performed by a consultant paediatric surgeon. The urethroplasty was achieved by applying the same surgical principles mastered from paediatric urology to a horse. The indication for surgery was contact dermatitis of the hind-leg, which impaired the thoroughbred foal's racing potential. Methods: A single stage ur...
Initial treatment of colic is aimed at maintaining hydration and acid-base balance, controlling pain and reestablishing peristalsis. A poor response to medical treatment in the first 12-18 hours suggests the need for laparotomy. Other indications for surgery include: rising pulse rate, exceeding 60/minute for several hours; congested mucosae; delayed capillary refill; silent abdomen; gastric reflux; distended or displaced loops of bowel on rectal examination; intractable pain; and adverse laboratory findings. Postoperative care should consist of hand-walking for 30 days, followed by confinemen...
The objective of this study was to graft autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at the site of surgical repair of a soft palate defect in an adult horse in an attempt to improve wound healing and to investigate whether the transplanted MSCs would integrate into the soft palate structure and participate in regeneration. Bone marrow was collected from an adult horse with a full-thickness soft palate defect. The MSCs were isolated, cultured in monolayers, and labeled with 5-bromo-2-desoxymidine (BrdU) and chloromethylbenzamido-DiI-derived (cm-DiI) before transplantation. The soft palate defect ...
The upper respiratory tract is a frequent cause of exercise intolerance in horses, particularly in racing horses. There are a myriad of laryngeal abnormalities that may restrict airflow at the rima glottidis. Careful endoscopic examination is a crucial part of the examination of any racing horse suffering from poor performance. There has recently been interest in spectrum analysis of respiratory sounds. It has been determined that laryngeal hemiplegia and dorsal displacement of the soft palate have unique sound patterns. Therefore, spectrum analysis of respiratory sounds may prove to be useful...
Four horses were evaluated because of hind limb lameness. Two had a distinct gait abnormality at the walk characterized by lateral rotation of the point of the calcaneus and medial rotation of the toe during the stance phase. Nuclear scintigraphy revealed a focal area of intense radioisotope uptake in the caudodistal aspect of the femur in all 4 horses, and 3 of the horses had a corresponding proliferative reaction on the caudodistal cortex of the femur on radiographs. In all 4 horses, a diagnosis of injury to the origin of the gastrocnemius muscle was made. Three of the horses returned to ath...
Reported complication rates after dental repulsion for equine exodontia are high (up to 80%), but repulsion methods have changed notably in the last 20 years. Objective: Describe the outcome for 20 cases after dental repulsion using small diameter repulsion pins. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Records of horses that underwent cheek tooth repulsion were reviewed (2014-2023). Inclusion criteria included: mandibular or maxillary cheek tooth extraction where oral extraction failed and repulsion was used to complete extraction, and where clinical follow up information was available....
Klopfenstein Bregger MD, de Preux M, Brünisholz HP, Van der Vekens E, Schweizer D, Koch C.This retrospective case series reports on the use of computer-assisted surgery (CAS) to perform cheek tooth repulsion in 16 equids. Thirteen of the 16 subjects in this case series had a mandibular cheek tooth repulsed, and 3 had a maxillary cheek tooth removed. Surgery was performed on all subjects under general anesthesia, and all but one were placed in lateral recumbency. All cheek teeth were successfully removed by navigated repulsion, except in one case where additional intraoral sectioning was performed. In one horse, a surgical approach through the contralateral nasal conchae was made to...
Wood AD, Parker RA.To describe a tenoscopically guided technique for desmotomy of the proximal digital annular ligament (PDAL). Methods: Ex vivo study and clinical case series. Methods: A total of 10 normal cadaver equine hindlimbs and five clinical cases of PDAL desmitis. Methods: The digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) was approached via a lateral basisesamoid portal and a palmar/plantar annular ligament (PAL) desmotomy was performed to improve maneuverability in the DFTS. Additional proximolateral and distal midline instrument portals were created to facilitate transection of the proximolateral attachment, th...
García-López JM.Intrathecal and intrasynovial tendon and ligament injuries can result in extrusion of tendon/ligament fibers, granuloma, and adhesion formation that not only impairs healing of the original injury but can create new injuries that negatively affect adequate healing and return to athletic work. In these cases, endoscopic evaluation and debridement, not only of the lesion, but also any other secondary injury present, can enhance the healing of the tendon or ligament and improve the athletic prognosis. Careful planning of the approach, positioning, instrumentation, and thorough knowledge of the an...
Nocera I, Di Franco C, Sorvillo B, Aliboni B, Bucchioni E, Sgorbini M, Sala G, Citi S.Ultrasound-guided local anaesthesia is commonly used in veterinary orthopaedics for horses. This study aimed to assess an ultrasound technique for the medial branch of the dorsal branch of the cervical spinal nerves (MB-DBCSNs) in horses and compare the performance of clinicians with different experience levels. Ten healthy, skeletally mature horses were examined using radiographic and ultrasound (US) techniques in the cervical area (C3-C7). Four operators with varying experience conducted US examinations using a 10 MHz linear and 6 MHz curvilinear transducer over ten training sessions. T...
Nelson BB, Easley JT.Equine neurosurgery is a challenge for many surgeons, particularly when central nervous system (CNS) disease is not addressed through ventral cervical stabilization, the most performed neurosurgical procedure. Advances in diagnostic imaging, minimally invasive instrumentation, and computer-assisted surgery are expanding therapeutic possibilities beyond cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy, including radiculopathy, vertebral fractures, and intracranial or intraspinal masses. Emerging techniques-such as percutaneous foraminotomy, facet fixation, targeted decompression, novel implant systems...
Gomes VCL, Strachota JR.This article explores key complications in equine reproduction, focusing on their causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. It emphasizes the risks associated with common procedures, particularly those that are iatrogenic, meaning caused by medical intervention. The discussion highlights how understanding these risks can help in early detection and management, ultimately improving reproductive success and animal welfare. The article also provides insights into best practices to minimize complications, ensuring safer procedures and better outcomes for breeding horses.
Domańska-Kruppa N, Benoit P, Żukiewicz-Benoit K, Domino M, Kliczkowska K, Szubart M, Stefanik E.Limited data is available on the diagnostic and therapeutic methods for pathologies caused by scarring after castration. It is well recognized that specific behaviors or untypical hindlimb lameness may be observed in geldings with gelding scars and adhesions caused by spermatic cord remnants after castration OBJECTIVES: To describe how to diagnose movement disorders associated with excessive adhesions caused by spermatic cord remnant after castration and to present a successful surgical treatment method. Methods: To assess the impact of gelding scars on horses' movement and behavior, medical r...
Hegger A, Köhne M, Gerhauser I, Görgens A.A 19-year-old Oldenburg stallion was presented multiple times over the course of several months with recurrent colic signs. At each examination, an enlargement of the scrotum was noted, which could not be further specified by palpation and ultrasonographic examination. The increase in circumference was noted both on palpation and on inspection and the size remained unchanged throughout. No special findings were noted during the general examination and the special examination of the colic patient. A few months after the first onset of symptoms, a chicken egg-sized mass was palpated on the right...
Hinckley-Boltax AL, Malone E, Uustalu UK, FitzMaurice M.The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges competency-based veterinary education (CBVE) framework can be used to guide curriculum and assessment design and is intended to prepare veterinary graduates for Day One of clinical practice. However, while the framework defines curricular outcomes in terms of demonstrable competencies, it does not define the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to achieve those outcomes. In some human medical curricula, prioritized lists of clinical presentations guide curricular content, design, and assessment. These lists are based, in par...
Asai Y, Tsunetoshi Y, Susa Y, Matsuzawa A, Miyazaki S, Itagaki Y, Yamamoto H, Kimura K, Kushiya H, Sato S, Okada N, Yamabuki T, Kato K, Kinoshita Y....Horse kicks are a rare cause of injury and tend to cause severe complications such as visceral organ injury. Traumatic duodenal injuries are associated with high mortality rates. Furthermore, their reconstructive procedures vary widely and require appropriate on-the-spot judgment by the surgeon. We experienced a case of blunt abdominal trauma with a complete transection of the first portion of the duodenum caused by a horse kick without any associated lesions. A good postoperative course was achieved by trimming the pyloric part of the stomach and performing an end-to-end anastomosis between t...
Brandenberger O, Kalinovskiy A, Körner J, Genn H, Burger R, Leser S.The use of Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation (BEMER) therapy during general anesthesia has not previously been reported in horses. This randomized, investigator-blinded, placebo-controlled trial evaluates equine cardiopulmonary function and recovery quality after BEMER therapy application for 15 min in 100 horses during general anesthesia using isoflurane for pars-plana vitrectomy surgery as treatment for recurrent uveitis. Visually identical blankets were used in the two groups (1:1 ratio), one with a functional BEMER module and the other with a placebo module. Arterial blood pressure, b...
Vázquez Bringas FJ, Porcar LB, Franco SF, Martinez CM, Lasheras AR, Moraiz AV.Transrectal palpation (TP) is a basic skill in equine practice. Traditional TP learning methods include instructor-assisted TP in live animals, but this approach presents animal welfare concerns, especially when it needs to be used with large numbers of students. The main objective of this study is to compare two learning methods of TP: traditional methodology with live horses (LH) and alternative methodology using a cadaver with its flanks dissected (CDV). Twenty students with no previous equine TP experience were randomly assigned to two groups: LH ( = 10) and CDV ( = 10). Both groups receiv...
Cardona GC, Dahlgren LA, Byron CR, McKenzie HC, Werre SR, Bogers SH.The aim of the present study was to determine if a three-dimensional (3D)-printed instrument technique would improve lavage removal of plastic beads (guttural pouch [GP] chondroid mimics) through a dorsal pharyngeal recess (DPR) fenestration. We hypothesized that using a 3D-printed instrument placed through the DPR fenestration would remove more beads, reduce lavage time and incur less soft tissue damage than using a lavage tube control or instrument placement through the salpingopharyngeal ostium (SPO). Methods: Experimental cadaveric study. Methods: A total of 30 cadaveric equine heads. Meth...
Gaitan HM, Mudge MC, Litsky AS, Arruda AG, Gardner AK.To compare strength of left paramedian colopexies using various techniques in equine ex vivo models. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Equine cadavers euthanized for nongastrointestinal pathology (36 specimens derived from 9 horses). Methods: Colopexies were performed after euthanasia. Suture pattern (horizontal mattress vs. cruciate) and incorporation of dorsal sheath of the rectus abdominis (partial-thickness) versus incorporation of dorsal and ventral sheath of the rectus abdominis (full-thickness) were evaluated. Single cycle load to failure, work to peak load, stiffness, and mode of f...
Coutinho GH, Ragle CA.The objective of this demonstration was to describe and simulate a surgical technique for removing subepiglottic cysts in horses via an oral approach under endoscopic guidance using a cadaver model for simulation and clinical data. The technique aims to provide a minimally invasive method for the removal of these cysts. Methods: 2 clinical case images from the Washington State University Teaching Hospital were used in the video. In a third horse euthanized for reasons unrelated to the study, the procedure was simulated after the head was frozen and transected transversally. Methods: Files from...
Douglas HF, Brandly J, Hopster K.To investigate the effects of FLow-controlled EXpiration (FLEX) ventilation expiration time and speed on respiratory and pulmonary mechanics in anesthetized horses in dorsal recumbency. Methods: 6 healthy adult research horses. Methods: In this randomized crossover experimental study, horses were anesthetized 3 times and were ventilated each time for 60 minutes using conventional volume-controlled ventilation (VCV), linear emptying of the lung over 50% of the expiratory time (FLEX50), or linear emptying of the lung over 100% of the expiratory time (FLEX100) in a randomized order. The primary o...
Donard LA, Vinardell T, Boussauw B, Pollaris E.Sinus osteotomy is currently performed in equine surgery with conventional surgical methods, such as trephines and oscillating bone saw, leading to subsequent trauma to the bone during cutting. Piezoelectric devices are now used in maxillofacial surgery in humans as a standard tool as it is less traumatic than the oscillating bone saw and shortens the healing period. The aim of this study was to show that the piezoelectric device can be used for equine sinus surgery, compare its use with the oscillating bone saw, and describe the outcome of cases involving osteotomy performed with a piezoelect...
Trostle SS, Kearney EM, Medoff M, Devaney S.To describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a fragmented, migrating acupuncture needle near the palmar proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) of a horse. Methods: A 9-year-old Warmblood cross mare. Unassigned: The mare presented for evaluation of a linear metallic foreign body on the palmar lateral aspect of the PIPJ following acupuncture treatment. The mare had a pinpoint puncture wound and sensitivity to palpation over the lateral aspect of the PIPJ region. The referring veterinarian performed radiographs and found a linear metallic foreign body near the lateral palmar ...
