Doppler sonographic evaluation of the digital blood flow in horses with laminitis or septic pododermatitis.

The study investigated the use of Doppler ultrasonography in monitoring blood flow patterns in horses affected by septic pododermatitis and laminitis. The research concluded that Doppler sonography can be effectively used to observe vascular blood flow dynamics in such diseases, with blood flow velocities and Pulsatility Indices acting as potential disease progression indicators.

Methodology

• The researchers used Doppler sonography, a non-invasive imaging technique, to monitor the medial digital artery blood flow in twelve disease-afflicted horses (eight with septic pododermatitis and four with laminitis) and compared them with ten healthy control horses.
• Doppler sonographic measurements and lameness examinations were performed on the lame horses prior to the start of the treatment and on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th days post-treatment.

Findings Before Treatment

• Before treatment, significantly higher levels of blood flow velocities, arterial diameter, and flow volume were observed in the lame horses while the Pulsatility Indices (PIs) were notably lower. The term ‘Pulsatility Indices’ refers to the measurements that assess the blood flow in arteries.
• Compared to the control group, the resistive indices (RI—which measures resistance to blood flow) for the septic pododermatitis group didn’t significantly differ, but were significantly lower for the laminitis group.
• There wasn’t any significant distinction between the two lame horse groups.

Findings After Treatment

• After treatment began, significant decrease in blood flow velocities and flow volume, and a significant increase in the Pulsatility Indices, were noticed in both the disease groups.
• Neither the Resistive Indices nor the arterial diameter showed any changes post-treatment.
• The researchers couldn’t correlate the Doppler parameters with the degree of lameness.

Conclusion

• The study concluded that Doppler sonography can effectively monitor the vascular blood flow dynamics in horses suffering from septic pododermatitis and laminitis.
• It was highlighted that blood flow velocities and Pulsatility Indices can serve as parameters for monitoring the progression of the disease although they had no correlation with the degree of lameness.