Veterinary

Figure 2. Examples of equine glandular gastric disease. a) Mild, multi-focal, flat, hyperaemic lesions of the pyloric antrum. b) Mild, diffuse, flat, hyperaemic lesions of the pyloric antrum. c) Moderate, multi focal, raised, fibrinosuppurative lesions of the pyloric antrum.

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome and the challenges facing clinicians

Clinical signs in adult horses are typically non-specific and include weight loss, poor performance and mild colic. Dog-sitting, stretching out and becoming cast are indicative of cranial abdominal...

Novel developments in equine asthma

Equine asthma is characterised by airway inflammation and hyper-reactivity with a combined environmental and immunological aetiology. The lower airways are exposed to a triggering agent, such as dust,...

Figure 8. a) A lateral radiograph of a foot with chronic laminitis demonstrating remodeling (a ‘ski tip’ appearance, arrow) of the dorsodistal tip of the third phalanx, consistent with chronic laminitis. Note this horse also has a very long toe (asterisk) in need of a trim. b) A lateral radiograph of a foot with chronic laminitis demonstrating osteopenia (circled) of the dorsodistal tip of the third phalanx, consistent with chronic laminitis.

Understanding, diagnosing and managing endocrinopathic laminitis

Hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis is seen when sustained hyperinsulinaemia causes stretching, proliferation and elongation of the digital lamellae without damaging the underlying basement...

The horse's behavioural and welfare needs for optimal foraging opportunities

Horses have evolved to consume large amounts of forage and are therefore highly motivated to eat (Baumgartner et al, 2020). Naturally, horses would spend a large portion of their day engaged in the...

Figure 10. a) In the standard 55° navicular skyline image, sclerosis of the spongiosa is identified. The flexor cortex has decreased bone density, but a distinct defect is not visible. b) In a shallow angle (approximately 40°) navicular skyline image of the same horse, a focal irregular lucent defect is highlighted in the flexor cortex (white arrow). c) A mildly oblique upright lateromedial image catches the focal flexor cortex erosion in the distal aspect of the flexor cortex (white arrow).

A review of radiographic interpretation of the navicular bone

The navicular bone, or distal sesamoid bone, is located on the palmar aspect of the distal interphalangeal joint suspended by the collateral sesamoidean ligament, which attaches to the distal abaxial...

Figure 2. Conceptual diagram illustrating requirements for effective water and electrolyte replacement. Created by the author using Biorender. NaCl: sodium chloride; KCl: potassium chloride; Mg-citrate: magnesium citrate; Ca-citrate: calcium citrate.

Oral electrolyte supplementation and prevention of dehydration in horses

Horses have a very large total mass of contracting muscles which are capable of producing significant amounts of heat very quickly, but – relative to humans – have a small skin surface area for...

Mesenchymal stem cells: application in chronic lung disease

Depending on the relationship between the donor and the recipient, the stem cell source can be classified as autologous, allogeneic or xenogeneic (Food and Drug Administration, 2015). Isolation and...

Figure 1. A horse with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction showing characteristic hypertrichosis, loss of muscling along the topline and pendulous abdomen.

Management of the older horse

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is one of the most common diseases seen in older horses, and increasing age is the primary risk factor for this disease. Affected horses have a mean age of 21...

Figure 1. Key components of sustainable equine helminth control programmes. *Note: this practice is not suitable or effective to reduce F. hepatica.

Using diagnostics in supporting sustainable worm control in horses

Standard faecal egg count methods are insensitive for A. perfoliata, especially as the eggs are not evenly distributed in faeces (Nilsson et al, 1995) and it is not known whether eggs are released...

Figure 1. Emotions of the owner on receiving bad news and the approach in communicating these emotions.

The role of the equine veterinarian in end-of-life phase of geriatric horses

If an animal is faced with severe illness or another problem that could result in death, the owner may turn to a veterinarian for advice. The veterinarian is requested to have a part in the...

Figure 3. a) A minimal vitrification device used as the carrier for vitrifying embryos. This one is a Cryolock (FujiFilm, Irving Scientific, California, USA). b) Embryos are loaded onto the tip (arrowed) in a 2 µl volume of vitrification solution. The excess solution is removed before plunging into liquid nitrogen.

A touch of glass: cryopreservation of equine embryos by vitrification

Mammalian embryos cryopreserve well when they are relatively small, contain a negligible blastocoele cavity and their structure allows for the passage of cryoprotectants into the cells. Equine embryos...

Figure 1. Lipaemic plasma from a mixed breed pony with enterocolitis (left). Note the difference with plasma from a healthy horse (right).

Lipid disorders in horses and foals

In horses, lipids are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in the form of fatty acids. Short-chain fatty acids bind to albumin and travel through the portal circulation, but most fatty acids...