Veterinary research in horses encompasses the study of diseases, health management, and medical treatments specific to equine species. This field investigates various aspects of horse health, including infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, and musculoskeletal conditions. Researchers focus on understanding the pathophysiology of equine ailments, developing diagnostic tools, and evaluating therapeutic interventions. The study of horse health also involves examining preventive measures such as vaccination protocols and nutritional management to promote overall well-being. This page collects peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the diverse areas of veterinary science related to horses, providing insights into disease mechanisms, treatment strategies, and advancements in equine healthcare.
Takeda A, Shinohara T.A simple method for the simultaneous analysis of tiaramide (TRA) metabolites in the horse is described. The sample preparation method using a Bond-Elut PH cartridge and stepwise elution with ice-cold, 30% aqueous methanol followed by additional methanol is effective for recovering the metabolites with different properties. The extraction method gives good recoveries (greater than 80%) and reproducibility. Each metabolite is well separated by high-performance liquid chromatography using an octadecyl-type column of polymer-based packing with a solvent system of 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.5)-ac...
Marchi PR, Rawlings P, Burroughs JN, Wellby M, Mertens PP, Mellor PS, Wade-Evans AM.Purified African horse sickness virus (AHSV) was fed, as part of a blood meal, to adult females from a susceptible colony of Culicoides variipennis, established in the insectories at the Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, UK. The meal consisted of heparinized blood obtained from ovine, bovine, equine (horse and donkey) or canine sources spiked with AHSV serotype 9 (AHSV9). The infectivity levels observed for C. variipennis varied significantly, according to the source of the blood sample. Comparison of the protein profiles obtained from AHSV9 incubated with the individual serum...
Daels PF, Hughes JP.The purpose of this study was to develop a contraceptive method for feral horses. The feral horse population has increased significantly in recent years despite attempts to control numbers. As in most wild animal population control programs, contraceptive methods must be easy to apply, cause minimal disruption to the social structure and be fully reversible. In the present study, we tested the effectiveness of an intrauterine device (IUD) for fertility control in mares. Six mares were fitted with a silastic O-ring-shaped IUD on July 1 of Year 1. The IUD-treated mares were turned out with 12 no...
Griko YV, Freire E, Privalov G, van Dael H, Privalov PL.The energetics of the temperature-induced unfolding of equine lysozyme was studied calorimetrically and compared with that of two structurally homologous proteins: hen egg white lysozyme and alpha-lactalbumin. The structure of each of these proteins is characterized by the presence of a deep cleft that divides the molecule into two regions called the alpha and beta domains. In equine lysozyme and alpha-lactalbumin the latter domain specifically binds Ca2+. It is shown that, in contrast to hen egg white lysozyme in which the alpha and beta domains unfold as a single cooperative unit, in equine ...
Trostle SS, Hendrickson DA.Suture sinuses formed in 3 horses following closure of ventral midline incisions with size-2 polypropylene. Suture sinuses healed after the suture material was removed. Suture sinus formation following closure with polypropylene may be related to the suture material's mechanical, rather than its chemical, properties. If polypropylene is used to close the linea alba in horses, the amount of tissue incorporated in the suture loops, suture tension, and knot volume should be minimized to decrease the risk of suture sinus formation.
Fischer AT, Yarbrough TY.A technique for retrograde contrast radiography of the distal portions of the intestinal tract of foals was developed and then performed in 25 foals (1 to 30 days old) with colic. Retrograde contrast radiography was shown to be sensitive (100%) and specific (100%) for evaluating obstruction of the small colon or transverse colon. It was slightly less sensitive (86%) and specific (83%) for evaluation of the entire large colon, particularly in older foals. Retrograde contrast radiography provided increased diagnostic capability, compared with that for noncontrast radiography. Retrograde contrast...
Calvete JJ, Reinert M, Sanz L, Töpfer-Petersen E.Boar and stallion seminal plasmas were fractionated using affinity chromatography on heparin-Sepharose. In both species, among other proteins, the heparin-binding (H+) and non-heparin-binding (H-) fractions each contained glycoforms of either porcine PSP-I or equine HSP-1 and HSP-2. However, porcine H+/PSP-I eluted as a monomeric protein, whereas H-/PSP-I formed a heterodimer with PSP-II, another major seminal plasma protein. On the other hand, the stallion proteins H+/HSP-1 and H+/HSP-2 eluted together as an aggregate of relative molecular mass (M(r)) 90,000, whereas H-/HSP-1 and H-/HSP-2 elu...
Slater JD, Herrtage ME.Echocardiographic examinations were performed on 41 clinically normal small ponies, large ponies and horses. Using standardised two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiographic images to guide M-mode studies, the interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular internal dimension and left ventricular wall in systole and diastole, and aortic diameter in diastole were measured. Normal values for these echocardiographic dimensions were obtained across a wide range of bodyweights. Although there was a trend for echocardiographic dimensions to increase with bodyweight across the whole range of animals ex...
Marr CM, Reef VB, Reimer JM, Sweeney RW, Reid SW.Two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiograms were recorded from 41 horses before they were successfully treated for atrial fibrillation. In addition, these examinations were performed in a subgroup of 20 horses after treatment, and the results were compared with pretreatment values. Atrial fibrillation in this group of horses was associated with a reduction of mean left ventricular fractional shortening (mean 31% +/- 5.24%), and 22 of the 41 horses were below the reference range. The remaining mean M-mode variables were within the normal reference range, although 12 horses had increased left ven...
Höglund J, Ljungström BL, Nilsson O, Uggla A.A scolex antigen of the horse tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata containing at least 14 different proteins was employed in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibodies to A. perfoliata in equine sera. The assay was applied to sera from 426 slaughtered horses with different numbers of worms and with varying degrees of intestinal lesions. As measured by the ELISA, there was a very strong effect on the antibody levels both from the number of tapeworms present and from the intestinal lesion score. However, considerable individual variation was observed between horses wit...
Parraga ME, Kittleson MD, Drake CM.The aim of this study was to determine if quinidine administration increases steady state serum digoxin concentration in horses. Digoxin (0.01 mg/kg q. 12 h per os) was administered to 6 horses for 7 days. Steady state was confirmed by identifying statistically indistinguishable peak and trough serum digoxin concentrations on Days 4, 5, and 6. On Day 6, serum digoxin concentration was measured at baseline and 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 h after digoxin administration. On Day 7, quinidine (20 g at baseline and 10 g at 2, 4 and 6 h) was administered per os and serum digoxin concentration was...
Kohn CW, Swardson C, Provost P, Gilbert RO, Couto CG.Myeloid and megakaryocytic bone marrow hypoplasia in association with moderate to profound neutropenia was observed in 8 young Standardbred horses sired by the same stallion; 7 horses were intermittently thrombocytopenic. Evaluation of serial neutrophil counts in 2 horses suggested that a cyclic variation in neutrophil numbers was present, that lymphocyte numbers increased when neutrophil counts decreased, and that platelet counts decreased when neutrophil counts decreased. Preliminary bone marrow cultures indicated that myeloid progenitor cells were present and that these cells were able to r...
Vachon AM, Fischer AT.The incidence of epiploic entrapment of the small intestine in horses undergoing celiotomy for colic was 5%. The condition was more prevalent in older (mean 9.81 years) gelding and Thoroughbred horses. Preoperative peritoneal protein level was a good prognostic indicator as it was significantly greater in the nonsurvivor (39.4 +/- 5.10) group than in the survivor group (26.6 +/- 14.0) (P<0.05). Abdominal ultrasonography allowed earlier diagnosis and surgical intervention in nonpainful cases with inconclusive rectal findings. Surgery was completed in 46 horses and 44 horses recovered from anaes...
Dik KJ, van den Broek J.From progeny lists of 30 Dutch Warmblood sires, 586 3-year-old females by these stallions were randomly selected, each progeny group aimed at 20 animals for statistical reasons. The front feet of the sires and female progeny were examined radiographically using lateromedial and dorsopalmar upright pedal projections. The radiological features associated with navicular disease were classified 0-4 using a standardised classification, grades 3 and 4 representing the more severe changes. The shape of the proximal articular border of the navicular bone outline on the dorsopalmar view was classified ...
Grøndahl C, Hyttel P, Grøndahl ML, Eriksen T, Gotfredsen P, Greve T.The objectives were to describe the ultrastructure of equine oocytes aspirated from small and preovulatory follicles, and to relate the ultrastructural features to follicle size and follicular fluid steroid concentrations. Mares were examined every second day by transrectal ultrasonography, and follicles measuring > 30 mm were aspirated (in vivo) using a 20-cm-long 12-gauge needle through the flank. Following slaughter, both large and small follicles were aspirated (in vitro) from six mares. The oocytes were isolated under a stereomicroscope and processed for transmission electron microscop...
Muir WW.The haemodynamic effects of milrinone hydrochloride were determined in halothane-anaesthetised horses. Six healthy adult horses were anaesthetised with guaifenesin and thiamylal and maintained with halothane in oxygen (end-tidal halothane concentration of 1.15%). Baseline haemodynamic data were recorded after a 45 min stabilisation period. All 6 horses received a single loading dose of milrinone HCl, 0.2 microgram/kg i.v., followed by progressively increasing infusions of 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 micrograms/kg bwt/min. Each infusion lasted for 15 min and produced dose related increases in heart rate,...
Monzón CM, Jara GA, Hoyos CB.The microhaematocrit (MH) technique was used to study the survival of Trypanosoma evansi in blood from two herds of naturally-infected horses. A comparison was made between samples treated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and sodium citrate (alone or with 1% glucose), and sent to the laboratory packed in ice. In general, the number of samples yielding positive results by the MH technique showed the least variation during the first 24-36 h after sample collection. Survival varied with the anticoagulant used, but it declined rapidly from 48 h after collection, although live parasites were st...
Blissitt KJ, Bonagura JD.Colour flow Doppler echocardiography is a technique that is used with two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography to study blood flow patterns in the heart and blood vessels. This method was used to define normal flow patterns and to evaluate valvular function in 40 clinically normal Thoroughbred and Thoroughbred cross horses. Flow patterns from 10 standardised echocardiographic images were described in relation to anatomic landmarks and timing during the cardiac cycle. Consistent intracardiac flow patterns were identified in the normal horses. High velocity flow signals or regurgitant jets were re...
Rankins EM, Salem K, Manso Filho HC, Malinowski K, McKeever KH.Clenbuterol (β agonist) is a commonly administered bronchodilator in race and performance horses. While long-term administration can alter exercise performance and muscle properties, little is known about its effects on these parameters following short-term administration. A single dose of clenbuterol (0.80 µg/kg) was expected to alter muscle activity of the extensor carpi radialis, semitendinosus, and longissimus dorsi during submaximal exercise. Eight mature Standardbred horses exercised for 2 minutes at 5 m/s on a high-speed treadmill following clenbuterol dosing (clenbuterol) or no dosin...
Birmingham SSW, Mason RM.Serum amyloid A (SAA) is one of the major acute phase proteins in horses. It serves as a marker for systemic inflammation and infection, as the concentration can increase 100- to even 1000-fold during systemic disease processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sedation, oral examination, and odontoplasty on systemic inflammation as measured by SAA in the adult performance horse. This study included 32 clinically healthy adult performance horses. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to sedation, oral examination, and odontoplasty and 48 and 72 hours afterward...
Roska S, Morello S, Rajamanickam V, Smith LJ.Effects of lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) and hetastarch 130/0.4 (HES) on colloid osmotic pressure (COP), plasma osmolality (OSM) and total protein (TP) were investigated in 18 inhalational-anaesthetised healthy horses. Horses received 4-6 ml/kg LRS (LRS; n=9) or HES (HES; n=9) from anaesthesia induction through 60 min, after which all were administered LRS. COP, TP and OSM were measured before premedication (baseline), postinduction and 30 (n=18), 60 (n=18), 90 (n=18) and 120 (n=12) minutes. Baseline COP, OSM and TP were not different between groups. TP decreased in both groups at all t...
Naylor JM, Wolker RE, Pharr JW.Twenty students and 16 diplomates listened to 7 recordings made from 7 horses with either aortic (n = 3) or mitral valve (n = 4) regurgitant murmurs. A total of 30 different terms were used to describe the character of these murmurs. However, only 4 terms were used in a repeatable and consistent manner. Most people described the character of a given mitral or aortic valve murmur with 1 or 2 terms. Diplomates drew from a pool of terms that was about half the size of that used by students--8.1 +/- 2.0 terms for diplomats (mean +/- 1 SD) versus 13.1 +/- 1.8 terms for students (P > .001). Only blo...
Coultous R, Gotić J, McCann M, Sutton D, Beck R, Shiels B.The apicomplexan haemoparasite Theileria equi, a causative agent of equine piroplasmosis, is an established pathogen of significant welfare and economic concern within the Croatian equine population. A previous large surveillance study of T. equi has identified two distinct parasite populations, one in the north and one in the south, geographically separated by the Dinaric Alps, which traverse the country. This study aimed to further investigate the genetic diversity within these two populations, focussing on allelic variability of the equi merozoite antigen gene, ema-1. Methods: Following nes...
Vercelli C, Tursi M, Miretti S, Giusto G, Gandini M, Re G, Valle E.Laminitis is one of the most devastating diseases in equine medicine, and although several etiopathogenetic mechanisms have been proposed, few clear answers have been identified to date. Several lines of evidence point towards its underlying pathology as being metabolism-related. In the carbonyl stress pathway, sugars are converted to methylglyoxal (MG)-a highly reactive α-oxoaldehyde, mainly derived during glycolysis in eukaryotic cells from the triose phosphates: D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate. One common hypothesis is that MG could be synthesized during the dig...
Bae JH, Ahn K, Nam GH, Lee CE, Park KD, Lee HK, Cho BW, Kim HS.The horse BMAL1 gene encodes the brain and muscle Arnt-like protein 1, which is a key regulator of circadian rhythmic systems in most organs and cells. The first exon of the horse-specific BMAL1 gene is produced by an exonization event of LINE3 (CR1) and SINE (MIR) was detected by bioinformatic analysis. Alternative variants generated by cassette exon event in various horse tissues were also detected by RT-PCR amplification and sequencing. The cDNA sequences of the horse transcripts (BMAL1a, BMAL1b) contain additional 21 bp and 71 bp fragments relative to horse BMAL1. Quantitative real-time RT...
Shih AC, Giguère S, Sanchez LC, Valverde A, Jankunas HJ, Robertson SA.To compare cardiac output (CO) measured by lithium arterial pressure waveform analysis (PULSECO) and CO measured by transpulmonary pulse contour analysis (PICCO) in anesthetized foals, with CO measured by use of lithium dilution (LIDCO) considered the criterion-referenced standard. Methods: 6 neonatal (1- to 4-day-old) foals that weighed 38 to 45 kg. Procedures-Foals were anesthetized and instrumented to measure direct blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood gases, and CO. The CO was measured by use of PULSECO, PICCO, and LIDCO techniques. Measurements were converted to specific CO (sCO) va...
Valdés-Martínez A, Seiler G, Mai W, Bolt DM, Mudge M, Dukti SA, Hubert JD.To develop a quantitative method of interpreting tibial scintigrams of Thoroughbred racehorses with tibial stress fractures that may facilitate diagnosis of fractures and to provide prognostic information regarding future performance of affected horses. Methods: 35 Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Static bone-phase scintigrams of tibial stress fractures were quantitatively analyzed by use of ratios of the mean radionuclide counts per pixel in a region of interest (ROI) drawn around the area of increased uptake of radiopharmaceutical to mean counts per pixel in a second ROI drawn around an app...
De Martin I, Theoret CL.To describe immunolocalization of TGF-beta receptors (RI and RII) in normal equine skin and in thoracic or limb wounds, healing normally or with exuberant granulation tissue (EGT). Methods: Group A: six wounds on one metacarpus and one midthoracic area. Group B: six wounds on both metacarpi, one of which was bandaged to stimulate EGT. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect RI and RII expression in wound margins. Methods: Eight horses, randomly assigned to one of two study groups. Methods: Neutralizing polyclonal anti-rabbit RI and RII antibodies were used to detect spatial expression of RI an...
Kinoshita Y, Niwa H, Uchida-Fujii E, Nukada T.The incidence of equine proliferative enteropathy, caused by Lawsonia intracellularis, is increasing around the world. To investigate the relationships of variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) patterns with host species and clinical status in horses, multilocus VNTR analysis (MLVA) was applied to 98 L. intracellularis samples collected from horses, seven from pigs, seven from wildlife, one vaccine strain, and 17 public strains. The VNTR patterns were highly diverse: a total of 130 samples identified 99 distinct patterns, and the 98 horses were classified into 71 different patterns. A phylogen...
Liu Y, Uboh CE, Soma LR, Li X, Guan F, You Y, Rudy JA, Chen JW.In 2008, Pennsylvania (PA) became the first State in the USA to ban and enforce the ban on the use of anabolic and androgenic steroids (AAS) in equine athletes by using plasma for analysis. To enforce the ban, a rapid and high-throughput method for analysis of 60 AAS in equine plasma was developed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Analytes were recovered from plasma by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) using methyl tert-butyl ether, separated on a reversed-phase C₁₈ column and analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM)...
Lane VM, Merritt AM.In 4 healthy horses and 1 Welsh pony, fractional renal excretions of phosphorus (FEp) determined from 9 hourly time collections taken over a 24-hour period were compared to assess whether a single-sample collection would be an accurate indicator of the daily FEp. The mean FEp for each animal varied from 0.115% to 0.302%; the 2 animals with the highest values were significantly different (P less than 0.05) from the 3 with the lowest values. Individual variation within animals was not great, however, because it was calculated that the 24-hour FEp value could be found within +/- 0.087% of the sin...
Stefańska I, Witkowski L, Rzewuska M, Dzieciątkowski T.Rhodococcus equi is the causative agent of rhodococcosis in horses, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in foals. This bacterium has also been isolated from a variety of animals and is being increasingly reported as a cause of infection in humans, mainly in immunosuppressed individuals. Laboratory diagnostics of R. equi infections based only on conventional microbiological methods shows low accuracy and can lead to misidentification. The objective of the study was to develop and evaluate a real-time PCR assay for direct detection of R. equi in various clinical specimens, including...
Boosinger TR, Brendemuehl JP, Bransby DL, Wright JC, Kemppainen RJ, Kee DD.Newborn foals of mares grazing on Acremonium coenophialum-infected fescue pasture throughout gestation or from gestation day 300 to parturition had increased gestation duration and decreased serum triiodothyronine concentration. Pregnant mares were allotted to 4 treatments: grazing continuously on endophyte-free (E-) fescue, grazing continuously on endophyte-infected (E+) fescue, grazing on E+ fescue from gestation day 300 to parturition, and grazing on E+ fescue from conception to gestation day 300. Morphometric studies indicated that foals born to mares exposed to endophyte late in gestation...
Praud A, Dufour B, Robert C, Valette JP, Denoix JM, Crevier-Denoix N.Several studies have demonstrated a statistical association between management practices and juvenile osteochondral conditions (JOCC) in foals from birth to 6months of age, but this association has not been investigated in yearlings. The purpose of the current study was to determine the adjusted effects of management practices on the onset and evolution of JOCC in French yearlings. The study sample consisted of 259 yearlings born on 20 stud farms in Normandy. The breeding conditions of these horses were monitored from 6 to 17months. They were radiographed at 6 and 17months to determine their r...
Beard WL, Holcombe SJ, Hinchcliff KW.To determine the effect of a tongue-tie on upper airway mechanics in clinically normal horses exercising on a treadmill following sternothyrohyoid myectomy. Methods: 6 Standardbreds. Methods: Upper airway mechanics were measured with horses exercising on a treadmill at 5, 8, and 10 m/s 4 weeks after a sternothyrohyoid myectomy was performed. Pharyngeal and tracheal inspiratory and expiratory pressures were measured by use of transnasal pharyngeal and tracheal catheters connected to differential pressure transducers. Horses were fitted with a facemask and airflow was measured by use of a pneumo...
Bampidis V, Azimonti G, Bastos ML, Christensen H, Dusemund B, Durjava M, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, López Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B, Pechová A....Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on DSM 11520 when used as a technological additive (acidity regulator) in feed for horses, dogs, cats and pet rabbits. The additive is intended to be incorporated into oat-derived products (ca. 55% moisture content), carrot root-derived products (≥ 90% moisture) and coconut flesh-derived products (≥ 90% moisture) at a minimum inclusion level of 8.0 × 10 CFU/kg of the feed material under scope. The bacterial species is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the qualified presumption ...
Ginther OJ, Woods BG, Meira C, Beg MA, Bergfelt DR.Follicle growth and circulating hormone concentrations were compared between an interovulatory interval and the first 60 days of the anovulatory season in pony mares. Daily observations were made from November of three groups: (i) ablation of follicles of >/=6 mm in diameter at day 10 after an ovulation that initiated an interovulatory interval, as determined retrospectively (ovulatory group, n=8), (ii) ablation at day 10 after the last ovulation of the year (anovulatory-10 group, n=6); and (iii) ablation at day 60 after the last ovulation of the year (anovulatory-60 group, n=6). Follicular...
Longhofer SL, Reinemeyer CR, Radecki SV.The efficacy of top-dress antiinflammatory drugs ultimately depends on a patient's willingness to consume treated feed. The current study compares the palatability of two phenylbutazone top-dress formulations (Equipalazone Powder, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, and Pro-Dynam, VetXX, Ltd.) and a suxibuzone top-dress formulation (Danilon Equidos, Janssen Animal Health). Results of a three-period, crossover study on 18 healthy horses showed that Pro-Dynam was significantly less palatable, with significantly less consumption of treated feed compared with either Equipalazone Powder or Danilon Equidos. The...
Stadler P, Kinkel N, Deegen E.In 14 horses without heart disease stroke volume determination were established by pulsed wave doppler echocardiography. Thermodilution and doppler echocardiography were used simultaneously. The doppler echocardiographic volume determinations were carried out in left and right outflow tracts. Echocardiographically Velocity Time Integral, Maximum Flow Velocity, Mean Flow Velocity and Acceleration Time were ascertained. To be able to compare heart volumes of horses with different body weight stroke volume was applied to 1 kg of body weight (= heart index). Heart Index determined with thermodilut...
Uboh CE, Rudy JA, Railing FA, Enright JM, Shoemaker JM, Kahler MC, Shellenberger JM, Kemecsei Z, Das DN.Although urine is the sample of choice for drug tests in racehorses, it is rarely obtained following the sudden death of a racehorse on the track while racing. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the significance of postmortem tissue samples as an alternative to urine and blood samples in equine drug analysis following the sudden death of a racehorse on the track while participating in a competitive race. Postmortem tissue samples were frozen (-80 degrees C) until analyzed. A 30-40-g portion of each organ was homogenized in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), deproteinized, hydrolyzed ...
Caston SS, Schleining JA, Danielson JA, Kersh KD, Reinertson EL.To determine if instruction using simulated small intestine (SSI) is as effective as using cadaveric small intestine to teach the Gambee suture pattern to second year veterinary students. Methods: Prospective, randomized, blinded study. Methods: Second year veterinary students (n=59). Methods: Students were randomly assigned to groups using SSI or equine cadaver small intestine (CSI) to learn the Gambee suture pattern. The same educator, an experienced surgical instructor, instructed all students. Instruction consisted of verbal description of the technique with a schematic diagram followed by...
Halsberghe BT.Hoof problems are commonly seen in veterinary practice and manipulation of hoof growth rate can be practical and beneficial for that matter. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect of whole body vibration (WBV) on hoof growth rate of front feet in the horse. The study was an experimental, single subject, repeated measure design, with all horses serving as control and treatment. Ten horses were subject to WBV, 30 min, twice daily, five days a week, for 60 days in addition to their regular exercise routine. Hoof growth was measured from the reference hairline down to a horizo...
Back W, Remmen JL, Knaap J, de Koning JJ.Lateral heel wedges are used to treat horses and ponies with patella fixation or bone spavin. However, these therapies are purely empirically based and lack scientific evidence. Objective: Lateral heel wedges would change joint motion in the sagittal, but mainly in the transversal planes, in healthy horses. This effect would be increased by restricted feeding and decreased by extra training. Methods: A group of 24 Shetland ponies age 3 years was used, as foals had been assigned to restricted and ad libitum (ad lib) feeding, and low and high level training groups of 6 animals each. An experienc...
Eiler H, Oliver JW, Andrews FM, Fecteau KA, Green EM, McCracken M.To evaluate results of a combined dexamethasone suppression/thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test in horses suspected clinically to have a pars intermedia pituitary adenoma (PIPA). Methods: Case-control study. Methods: 7 healthy adult horses and 5 horses suspected to have a PIPA. Methods: A baseline blood sample was collected, and dexamethasone (40 micrograms/kg [18 micrograms/lb] of body weight, IV) was administered; a second blood sample was collected 3 hours later, and TRH (1.1 mg, IV) was administered; serial blood samples were collected 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes and 21...
Barker SA.Advances in analytical technology now make it feasible to detect and confirm exceptionally low concentrations (pg to fg/mL) of drugs and their metabolites in equine biological fluids. These new capabilities complicate the regulatory interpretation of drug positives and bring into question the fair application of medication rules. Such approaches and policies are further complicated by the possibility that drug positives may arise from contamination of the equine environment on the backstretch of the race track. This manuscript provides data demonstrating that the general environment of the bac...
Kästner SB, Marlin DJ, Roberts CA, Auer JA, Lekeux P.The performance of a Fleisch No. 5 pneumotachometer (F), and two commercial ultrasonic pneumotachometers, the BRDL (B) and the Spiroson (S) systems were compared in respect to their use for determination of ventilatory parameters at rest and during lobeline-induced hyperpnoea. Five clinically healthy Thoroughbred horses were tested with the three pneumotachometers in random order. Respiratory airflow, respired gas concentrations, oesophageal pressures, pressures within the mask systems and arterial blood gases were determined before and during lobeline-induced hyperpnoea. Because measured peak...
Wafy MN, Hassan EA, El-Maaty AMA, Abu-Seida AM.Despite the extensive research on ocular ultrasonography, there is paucity of information regarding ocular biometry and color Doppler imaging of the donkey's eye. This study establishes B-scan ocular biometry and color Doppler ultrasonographic reference values in normal donkeys and describes effect of laterality, maturity and gender on ocular biometry and vasculature. Forty (80 eyes) clinically normal immature and mature donkeys of both sexes were included. Transpalpebral ocular ultrasonography was made using a 12-MHz linear transducer. Biometric ocular measurements were made including the ant...
King JN, Gerring EL.The effect of cisapride was evaluated on the normal fasting bowel motility of four ponies with chronically implanted electromechanical transducers. Cisapride was infused over 60-min periods at 0.05 mg/kg (n = 4), 0.1 mg/kg (n = 5) and 0.25 mg/kg (n = 5). It produced marked and prolonged increases in electrical and mechanical activity at all sites examined. In the stomach there was increased total contraction activity with increased contraction amplitude and a slight reduction in rate. In the small intestine there was an increase in irregular (phase II) activity with an increase in number and a...
