Veterinary

Figure 1. Dystocia caused by ventrally deviated head and neck. The foetal poll was palpable and the muzzle was retrieved and guided into the pelvic inlet, allowing an uncomplicated assisted vaginal delivery. Although born alive, the foal was euthanised because of congenital deviation of the rostral maxilla and nasal septum (wry-nose).

Understanding dystocia in the field: part 1

From approximately 2 months into gestation, the equine foetus is highly active (Allen and Bracher, 1992). The characteristically long umbilical cord facilitates free movement within the allantoic...

Figure 1. Elbow-lock posture.

Understanding dystocia in the field: part 2

Once the nature of the dystocia has been diagnosed, a concise conversation with the owners should ensue. The likely prognosis for mare, foal and subsequent fertility, as well as costs associated with...

Figure 1. Lead placement for exercising electrocardiogram using the Televet 100 system1, with the leads behind the rider's leg position low down to avoid interference from the rider.

How to interpret an electrocardiogram

A good quality ECG trace makes interpretation much easier (Verheyen et al, 2010). The fundamental principles are ensuring that the ECG pads have good contact with the horse and limiting movement...

Figure 5. The main toxin compound in Helleborous species (hellebore) is protoanemonin.

Spring poisoning hazards

European adders (Vipera berus berus) hibernate from around October to February. They emerge when the weather warms and bites typically occur in the spring and summer. Although relatively common in...

Figure 2. Donkey with marked ventral oedema.

Endoparasite control for donkeys in the UK

As with horses, routine monitoring of FWECs, particularly during the grazing season, can help build a picture of each individual animal's parasite status and help target anthelmintic treatments at...

Figure 2. Feeding options for equine neonates

Don't forget the foal: the nursing requirements of hospitalised foals when the mare is the primary patient

Admitting a mare for treatment at an equine hospital when she has a foal at foot is not comparable to admitting an adult horse with a companion. The foal, even though it is not the primary patient,...

Figure 6. Purulent material lavaged from the guttural pouch using a Foley catheter. Note the attempt to catch infected material in a bowl but the disappointing lack of gloves, personal protective equipment and floor covering.

Streptococcus equi infections: current best practice in the diagnosis and management of ‘strangles’

S. equi is an obligate pathogen that does not survive well outside the horse. Elimination of the disease should be a realistic aim; in some countries, strangles is a reportable or notifiable disease....

Figure 1. Conformation can be assessed by viewing the horse from the side with the metatarsus perpendicular to the ground. This horse has long toe, low-heel conformation with a broken-back hoof-pastern axis (red line).

Therapeutic farriery of the hind feet for horses with hindlimb orthopaedic injuries

Low-heel hind foot conformation has become prevalent and can be recognised in several ways. When viewed from the side, with the third metatarsal vertically orientated, the digit will have a BB-HPA...

Diarrhoea in foals

Foal heat diarrhoea is a self-limiting condition that occurs in 75-80% of foals, aged between 5 and 15 days. Diarrhoea is usually transient, lasting 3–4 days, and foals typically remain bright and...

Figure 2. Rhodococcus equi-associated acute uveitis in a foal. Marked aqueous flare and hypopyon with feint corneal oedema. The condition was bilateral and appeared to be only mildly painful, as is often the case.

Immune-mediated disorders of the eye: part two – equine recurrent uveitis

All equine practitioners will be familiar with ERU as it is the most common cause of blindness in horses worldwide (Gilger and Hollingsworth, 2017). While it is agreed to be an immune-mediated...

Figure 2. Photograph of a horse with hindlimb digital flexor tendon sheath effusion. Note the ‘notch’ created by the constrictive plantar annular ligament (green arrow), resulting in effusion bulging proximal and distal to this level.

Diagnosis of digital flexor tendon sheath conditions in the horse

The digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) is a synovial cavity occupying the distal third of the palmar metacarpus/plantar metatarsus and the palmar/plantar pastern, to the level of the middle phalanx....

Potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on horse behaviour in the UK between March and October 2020

When horses are handled by nervous humans their heart rate increases (Keeling et al, 2009). Horses also react differently to odours from nervous humans, they touch people more and spend more time with...